Abstract

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented new infection mitigation challenges and exacerbated existing health inequities. Mobile health care has the potential to increase access to high quality culturally responsive care. We sought to demonstrate that such care can be provided safely by engaging space design experts and community based organizations (CBOs) in the design and implementation of a mobile health initiative.

Materials and methods: Mobile clinics were organized by CBOs serving migrant farmworkers and university based health providers. Community members were informed of clinic dates and locations through social media, informal networks, and word of mouth. An architectural designer planned the clinic space and flow of pedestrian traffic for safe social distancing.

Results: Clinic schematics were created by the architectural designer and used for foot traffic flow. Two mobile health clinics serving 94 patients were held during a peak COVID-19 infection period in 2020. Events held in 2021 utilized the same designs and were expanded to include additional services and vaccines in response to feedback received from the 2020 clinics.

Conclusion: Partnerships developed with community based and faith based organizations can increase access and health equity by leveraging trust built over time and incorporating care into community events. Despite challenges with seeking health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, health care events for testing and/or vaccinations can be safely performed by utilizing practices based in architectural design to minimize face to face contact. Mobile clinic programs can be done safely and effectively during the pandemic so long as emphasis is placed on infection mitigation through clinic design. This model can be used in health events where respiratory infection risk is high.

Keywords: COVID-19; Mobile health; Healthcare design; Health equity