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The Role of Street Medicine and Mobile Clinics for Persons Experiencing Homelessness: A Scoping Review

Author

Listed:
  • Rebekah A. Kaufman

    (Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Mahwish Mallick

    (Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
    Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA)

  • Jarvis Thanex Louis

    (Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Mollie Williams

    (Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Nancy Oriol

    (Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
    Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA)

Abstract

Introduction: An estimated 5800 to 46,500 lives are lost due to homelessness each year. Experiencing homelessness and poor health are cyclically related, with one reinforcing the other. Mobile programs, which include vehicles that travel to deliver care, and street medicine, the act of bringing care to spaces where PEH live, may play a role in alleviating this burden by providing trusted, affordable, and accessible care to this community. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature on the role of mobile clinics and street medicine in providing care for PEH by searching PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science on 10 August 2023. Articles from 2013 to 2023 specific to programs in the United States were included. The protocol was developed following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The primary outcome was the role of mobile programs for persons experiencing homelessness. Results: A total of 15 articles were included in this review. The descriptive findings emphasized that street medicine and mobile clinics provide primary care, behavioral health, and social services. The utilization findings indicate that street medicine programs positively impact the health system through their ability to defer emergency department and hospital visits, providing financial benefits. The comparative findings between mobile programs and office-based programs indicate current successes and areas for improvement. Discussion: Mobile clinics and street medicine programs that serve PEH provide a wide range of services. While more significant structural change is needed to address healthcare costs and housing policies in the United States, mobile clinics and street medicine teams can improve healthcare access and the healthcare system.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebekah A. Kaufman & Mahwish Mallick & Jarvis Thanex Louis & Mollie Williams & Nancy Oriol, 2024. "The Role of Street Medicine and Mobile Clinics for Persons Experiencing Homelessness: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(6), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:6:p:760-:d:1412928
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Baggett, T.P. & O'Connell, J.J. & Singer, D.E. & Rigotti, N.A., 2010. "The unmet health care needs of homeless adults: A national study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(7), pages 1326-1333.
    2. Vincent A. Fusaro & Helen G. Levy & H. Luke Shaefer, 2018. "Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Lifetime Prevalence of Homelessness in the United States," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 55(6), pages 2119-2128, December.
    3. Tammy Kiser & Linda Hulton, 2018. "Addressing Health Care Needs in the Homeless Population: A New Approach Using Participatory Action Research," SAGE Open, , vol. 8(3), pages 21582440187, July.
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