1 Group Assignment - Environmental Scan on Mobile Health Clinics in Canada Group 5: The Champions May Anne Canillas – 8710152 Jaspreet Kaur –8742673 Gneya Sanjaykumar Shah - 8716947 Richa Yadav – 8746858 Healthcare Administration and Service Management, Conestoga college HEAL8180: Current Issues in Health Care Administration and Service Management Professor Erin Gilbart Date Submitted: February 13, 2022 2 Introduction Our group conducted a mini environmental scan on mobile healthcare units, which is a recent healthcare innovation. Environmental scanning is the process of acquiring and analyzing data on events and trends in the external environment that aids in choosing the organization's future course of action (Gilbart, 2022). Canada's primary health care system embraces the advancement of technological innovation through easy access to services for all individuals despite their diverse status. Health care access encompasses the availability, accessibility, accommodation, affordability, acceptability, and awareness of health care services (Beks et al., 2020). The focus of these innovative mobile health clinics is to treat vulnerable individuals who are at higher risks of developing chronic diseases, mental health issues, and those who have no medical history to reference (Marketwired, 2015). The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic exponentially evolves, leading to increased demand and availability of primary health care mobile across the country. The use of mobile clinics has expanded in this aspect. The Government of Canada communicates in each province and territory regularly to assess the needs of regions hardest hit by the pandemic and to assist in promoting the health and safety of Canadians (Government of Canada, 2021). Objectives To know the existing trends available to Canada's evolving health care system. The innovation of mobile health clinics improves the health services accessible to individuals who do not have regular or direct access to medical care. 3 Methods We utilized a systematic Google search to identify mobile health clinics across Canada, anticipating that this would be among the ways individuals would access, research, or engage in these services. Each one of us managed to look onto some journals, articles, government reports, etc., last January 31, 2022, to gather pieces of information that support our mini-environment scan. Resources identified The resources we used to complete our environmental scan were Conestoga college library, google scholarly article, the course material, and Government's website. We also found BMC international journal from the library. Based on our search, we used established sources such as PubMed, research articles from Harvard University, and the college of family physicians of Canada. We also found current data from Canada's official government site. Identified Innovation Canada has been adapting to innovations in the health care industry. Mobile health care clinics are a growing model in the industry to provide primary health care services. They are the results of the multidisciplinary approach of healthcare providers, social workers, and technology experts (Beks et al., 2020). Mobile health care units enable an effective clinical experience and bring a sense of compassion to the vulnerable residents of Canada. Some individuals face various hurdles to receiving necessary healthcare services for many reasons, including difficulty in accessing, poverty or lack of knowledge. This may result in persistent health problems that are not treated on time, putting a load on emergency rooms and poor overall health. This approach benefits local communities in accessing the health care system and living a healthy lifestyle regardless of their status. Mobile clinics are a cost-effective delivery 4 approach for improving the health of vulnerable people by providing necessary health care treatments in a convenient way. Canada's first mobile health care unit was launched in June 2014 in Montreal with collaboration with TELUS Health and doctors of the world. It integrated around 800 Montreal's marginalized communities into the public health care system (Marketwired, 2015). What are mobile health care units? Mobile health care units are traveling portable vehicles like trucks, trailers, or Van that bring primary health care services to the field. It is divided into two sections: reception and nursing care area and other is health care professional area with examination equipment and necessary technology access to serve the patients better (Marketwired (2015). The vehicle is equipped with network connectivity and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. The services include screening tests, counseling, education, diagnostic and acute care referrals, and on-the-spot specialist referrals. Access to patients' health information and services will help the provider design the care for the patients effectively and enter the patient's information promptly for future dissemination. Need for Mobile health care units According to the data, more than 235,000 Canadians are homeless (Marketwired, 2015). They visit medical clinics on average 10 times a year, in which 31% of individuals end up admitted to the hospital due to severe conditions (Hill et al., 2016). The other reason is health inequities among indigenous populations and marginalized communities due to underdeveloped health care services to the region. Thus, it is essential for health policymakers and health professionals to develop novel interventions to promote health, manage chronic and infectious 5 diseases, and improve overall health outcomes. The onset of the pandemic showed us the need for home-based provision of care while maintaining social distancing. Overall, the mobile health care unit can provide access to primary health care services to the vulnerable populations of Canada and provide equitable access to the public health care system. Evidence and Implementation Evidence shows that mobile health clinics improve access and promote better health outcomes. These clinics serve as a bridge between the community and clinical settings, addressing medical and social determinants of health. It provides access to those who may lack the time, resources, or motivation to travel to traditional clinical settings. An example of this innovative approach is Canada's first mobile health clinic, Telus health which has enabled over 3,000 medical acts such as vaccinations, screening tests, and general health examinations; and reintegrated more than 800 of Montreal's disadvantaged communities back into the public health system. (Marketwired, 2015). There is evidence of mobile clinics being set up for Indigenous people and rural populations. The utilization of primary health care mobile clinics is designed expressly for Indigenous populations in Canada who hold a similar history of colonization, prejudice, and challenges to acquiring primary health care service. Wellness wheel mobile outreach clinic adapted by Saskatchewan for indigenous people to increase community health care services. Wellness Wheel clinics are run through local health institutions in collaboration with the clinical team by identifying needs. The clinical team includes Family physicians (FPs), registered nurses (RNs), specialist doctors like nephrologists, dermatology, surgeons, and other professionals. Each month, an RN, FP, and specialist travel to each community to deliver care (Pandey et al., 2020). 6 References Beks, H., Ewing, G., Charles, J. A., Mitchell, F., Paradies, Y., Clark, R. A., & Versace, V. L. (2020, November 9). Mobile Primary Health Care Clinics for indigenous populations in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States: A systematic scoping review international journal for equity in health. BioMed Central. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-020-01306-0 Gilbart, E. (2022). Week 1 Current issues in Health Care Administration and Service Management [PowerPoint slides]. eConestoga. https://conestoga.desire2learn.com/d2l/le/content/540211/viewContent/11177950/View Government of Canada (2021). Government of Canada provides Mobile Health Units to assist Ontario with COVID-19 response. Public Safety of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2021/01/government-of-canadaprovides-mobile-health-units-to-assist-ontario-with-covid-19-response.html Hill C., Ricks M., & Yu S. (2016). A Literature Review of the Scope & Impact Of Mobile Health Clinics Mobile Health Map / Harvard Medical School. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/509ab226e4b058edb8efe5a9/t/592ed75bc534a537f bb91943/1496242030963/A+Literature+Review+of+the+Scope+and+Impact+of+Mobile +Health+Clinics+2016.pdf Marketwired (2015). TELUS Health and Doctors of the World Bring Innovative Health IT and Care to Montreal's Disadvantaged Citizens; Canada's first mobile health clinic cared for more than 3,000 Montrealers; connected 800 homeless to health care system. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A570674271/AONE?u=conestoga&sid=ebsco&xid=e098b a17 7 Pandey, M., Nicolay, S., Clark, M., Desjarlais, V., Clay, A., & Skinner, S. (2020, September 1). Wellness Wheel Mobile Outreach Clinic: A community-led care model improving access to care in indigenous communities. Annals of Family Medicine. https://www.annfammed.org/content/18/5/466
