Mobile Health Services in an
Academic Setting
Ringenberg L, Gereige R, Dabrow S, Straub D, and Fleischer J.
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Underserved
Children
Teens/youth
Partners
In Caring
Mobile Health Services in an
Academic Setting
Lynn Ringenberg, M.D., FAAP
Associate Professor
Mobile Health Program Medical Director
lringenb@health.usf.edu
Hillsborough County Statistics
 16% of children 18 and under are uninsured
 17.6% live below the poverty level
 20% of the student population have unmet
medical needs, with 15% chronic health issues
 One in five households with children includes at
least one child with special needs
 Florida has second highest prevalence of HIV
infections nationwide
 Hillsborough County ranks 5th in the State of FL
in HIV infections
 Children often don’t have ACCESS TO CARE
“Pods” of School Sites in Hillsborough & Pasco Counties, Florida
1
2
1
4
6
1
1
1
0
2
4
5
3
9
1
3
8
7
1
 31 Elementary Schools
 11 Middle Schools
 5 High Schools
 1 Exceptional Center
 1 Career Center
 3 sites for abused,
homeless, and domestic violence
victims
Resident “Mobile Health” Participation
60
86%
50
# of Residents
In Program
Participating
Residents
40
89%
30
73%
94%
20
100%
10
0
PGY-1
PGY-2
PGY-3
Chief
Feb-Dec 2006
Total
School Programs through
Resident Advocacy








School Health Block Rotation
Oral Health Education
Coaches Sports Medicine Lecture Series
School Health Talks to Students
School Nurse Support Services
Medicaid/KidCare Education and Application Help
After-School Teen Health Events
Back-to-School Health Fairs
Patient Statistics
February-December 2006
 Over 109 visits
 Treated 1048 patients
 Residents, active participation:
 75% of the 68 Pediatric and Med-Peds
residents
 86% of Pediatric Residents
 Expansion to a “pod” system reaching
49 schools (Increase from 31 schools)
Patients
Patients per Month
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
199
146
136
99
67
65
49
b
Fe
r
Ma
r
Ap
73
93
71
50
y
Ma
n
Ju
l
Ju
g
Au
All Patients Seen
Total 1,048 Patients, 109 visits
p
Se
t
Oc
v
No
c
De
Patient Visits by Reason
Feb-Dec 2006
N= 1048
24%
45%
1%
30%
Acute Visit
Follow-up
School Physical
Sports Physical
Racial Demographics
Feb-Dec 2006
43%
(N= 1048)
19%
14%
1%
0%
22%
2%
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
Multiracial
Other
Unknown
Insurance Statistics
July-Dec 2006
(N= 1048)
23%
25%
2%
18%
32%
Unknown
Medicaid
Private
Insurance (Unknown Source)
None
Educational Value of Mobile Care
Exposure to the Community
Advocacy Teaching Tool
Enhancement of Cultural Sensitivities
Foster Resident Independence
Increased Dental Awareness
Team Approach to Care
Appreciation of Health Care Disparities
Challenges of Teen Health Care in their
Environment
 Meeting many of the ACGME competencies








Thank you for giving us the opportunity
to share our special program:
“Caring Hearts Hit the Road”
Avery Mixon, M.D.-PGY-2 Resident