Our mobile health unit serves as an integral extension of our continuity clinic, enhancing the breadth and depth of our medical services. Residents enrolled in continuity clinic blocks are allocated to the mobile unit for up to two half-day sessions every week. The scope of the mobile unit's reach encompasses the entirety of Fresno County, with particular focus on underserved rural areas adjacent to our urban center.  Many of these patients return for continuity visits upon revisiting sites.

Both faculty members and residents, who diligently man the mobile unit, traverse a recurring circuit of remote sites, meticulously ensuring the provision of uninterrupted medical care within the designated regions. This ongoing engagement fosters a seamless continuum of care, reinforcing our commitment to the communities we serve. The mobile unit offers residents an immersive opportunity to administer patient care in a distinctive non-hospital environment, an invaluable hands-on experience that enriches their medical training.

In readiness to address a range of medical needs, the mobile unit is thoughtfully equipped with an array of essential resources. Medications, wound care supplies, and diagnostic tools, including fundamental blood tests such as metabolic panels, hemoglobin screenings, lipid profiles, A1c checks, urinalysis, STD testing, and pregnancy tests, form a part of its comprehensive inventory. Moreover, the mobile unit is outfitted with the capability for point-of-care ultrasound and 12-lead EKG diagnostics. The availability of social workers on-site contributes to holistic care, facilitating patient connections with primary care providers, including our resident clinic.

The efficiency of our mobile unit operations is a testament to the unwavering support extended by our Community Health Department. Seamlessly integrating resident-patient interactions into our institution's EPIC EMR system underscores our commitment to streamlined medical care. Our mobile unit is equipped for optimal functionality, boasting secure high-speed satellite and/or LTE internet, HIPAA-compliant encrypted two-way radio communications, generator-powered operations, swamp cooling systems to facilitate outdoor triage during warmer months, and climate control within the mobile units themselves.

Serving patients through the mobile unit is not only an exceptional educational opportunity for our residents, but also a defining highlight of their continuity experience. This experience allows them to develop a profound appreciation for patient needs within diverse contexts, preparing them to be versatile and empathetic healthcare professionals in the future.