RESEARCH: What Do We Know About Rural Mobile Health Clinics? A Scoping Review.

A review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) examines 34 studies of mobile health clinics serving rural populations across the U.S. and globally. The review finds that mobile clinics consistently expand access to preventive, primary, and chronic care services by bringing care directly into communities facing geographic, transportation, and affordability barriers. Across U.S. programs, including those in Tennessee, South Carolina, Iowa, and Ohio, mobile clinics are shown to deliver high volumes of screenings and preventive services, support strong patient satisfaction and repeat engagement, and contribute to reduced reliance on emergency department care. The study also highlights emerging evidence of financial and operational value, while underscoring the importance of continued research to better connect service delivery with long-term health outcomes. Overall, the findings position mobile health clinics as a growing and important component of rural health system design and transformation efforts. Download the Research!