Wagons Ho Weighing the Pros and Cons of Mobile and Portable Health Clinics

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Wagons Ho? Weighing the Pros and Cons of Mobile
and Portable Health Clinics

• Susan Bauer
• Executive Director
• Community Health Partnership of Illinois
• October 30, 2006

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Once upon a time..

• 1982 CHP (then part of IMC)
• Received grant of 2-operatory dental van
• Now what do we do???
• Partnership with PCCHD
• Bring dental services to migrant farmworker
  children in northern IL
• Late 1980s partnered with Loyola Dental School,
  RDH program
• Over 1500 children served annually, adults too

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All good things must come to an end

• Loyola closed
• No longer institutional support for the mobile
  unit
• Now what do we do?
• Sell van, purchase 3 portable units

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Adapting to a Changing Needs Statewide Program
Serving Migrant Head Start and Migrant Education

• Portable units
• Easier to store
• Can serve more than one site at a time
• Moving does no require a special drivers license
• Repairs/replacement easier (less down time)
• Less tempermental
• Not weather sensitive
• More practical for long distances (no need for
  tail driver)
• Longevity

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But Mobile Units Have Many Advantages, Too!

• Visibility the van is here!
• Health delivery site status for Medicaid
  billing
• Limited space in partner institution not an issue
• Easier set-up/knock down
• Privacy/confidentiality

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Factors to Consider

• Partnerships Vital!
• Geography Distance from home base
• Level of Service prevention vs. ongoing primary
  care
• Follow-up visits
• Frequency of Moves
• Third Party Reimbursement
• Staffing
• Institutional Support
• Storage, Maintenance (equipment and vehicle)
• Moving

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Portable Dental Equipment Manufacturers

• DNTL www.DNTLworks.com
• A-dec www.a-dec.com
• Aseptico www.aseptico.com
• ASI www.asimedical.com
• Bell www.belldental.com
• Berco www.bercoproducts.com
• M-DEC www.portabledendistry.com
• Obtura Spartan www.obtura.com
• Dentalaire 800/866-6881