Mobile Healthcare is Flourishing in Oklahoma

Table of Contents:

• Oklahoma City Enhances Crisis Response Through Expanded Mobile Healthcare Program

• Empowering Rural Health: Ohio Professor Leads Charge to Close Pharmacy Deserts

• Wellness on Wheels: Tulsa Health Department’s Mobile Clinic Breaks Down Barriers to Care

Read time: 3 minutes

Impact

Oklahoma City is expanding its Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) program to provide specialized mental and behavioral health support that meets residents where they are. The initiative utilizes four distinct teams, starting with a Crisis Call Diversion team at 911 centers to stabilize callers and connect them with services. For more urgent situations, the Crisis Response Team and Alternative Response Team provide on-scene intervention for emergencies involving potential self-harm or substance use.

Additionally, a Community Advocacy Program offers long-term, one-on-one support for high-volume 911 callers by addressing underlying issues like housing and medical care. By diverting non-emergency cases to these specialized professionals, the city ensures that traditional emergency responders can focus on critical life-safety situations. Ultimately, the MIH expansion aims to reduce unnecessary emergency responses while providing a clear pathway to stability for vulnerable residents.

New Recruit

Emily Eddy, a pharmacy professor at Ohio Northern University, has been selected as one of 18 national fellows by the National Rural Health Association to address growing healthcare gaps in small towns. As the leader of the Rural and Underserved Scholars program, Eddy trains students to conduct community needs assessments and design interventions specifically for rural environments. The initiative comes at a critical time for Ohio, which saw more than 200 pharmacy closures in 2024, leaving many residents in "pharmacy deserts."

Eddy advocates for a shift in healthcare policy to recognize and reimburse pharmacists as primary care providers who can manage chronic conditions like diabetes. By focusing on training local talent and creating sustainable payment models, she hopes to combat rural "brain drain" and ensure consistent medical access for underserved communities. Through her fellowship, Eddy aims to prove that integrated pharmacy models can successfully alleviate primary care shortages across the state.

Mobile Clinic

The Tulsa Health Department (THD) has launched a state-of-the-art Public Health Mobile Clinic van designed to bring essential medical services directly into underserved neighborhoods, schools, and community centers. This "Wellness on Wheels" initiative eliminates traditional obstacles like transportation and rigid scheduling by offering free, walk-in care, no appointments required. The mobile unit provides a wide range of services, including routine adult immunizations, health screenings for blood pressure and cholesterol, and assistance with SoonerCare and WIC enrollment.

By meeting residents where they live and work, the program aims to identify health risks early and provide vital education to help community members maintain healthier lifestyles. Ultimately, the mobile clinic serves as a critical bridge between vulnerable populations and the broader healthcare system, ensuring that quality medical care is accessible to all Tulsa County residents regardless of their socio-economic status.