On the need to increase the use of mobile medicine technologies during infectious pandemic

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mobile health units and medical team programs play an important, though underestimated, role in the healthcare system. The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic aggravated the problem of insufficient diagnostic and therapeutic medical care provided by mobile health technologies.

AIM: This study aimed to provide an expert assessment of the prospects for the use of mobile medicine technologies during infectious pandemic in the Russian Federation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Methods of content analysis, information, and analytical materials of Russian and international information agencies, statistical materials of the Ministry of Health of Russia, and summary of the Russian federal statistical observation «Information About the Medical Organization» were used.

RESULTS: The COVID-19 pandemic aggravated the problems of regional healthcare systems, which were struggling with an unexpectedly serious viral infection in an environment of weak infrastructure. Thus, mobile health units and teams represent an untapped resource for the Russian healthcare system. In Russia, the number of mobile health units is not growing fast enough, and the volume of their medical activities is not increasing significantly. In 2015, Russia had 1,064 mobile medical teams, and the volume of their work amounted to 2.1 million visits or 0.27% of the total number of outpatient visits. In 2019, 1,529 mobile medical teams were already registered, with a volume of 3.9 million visits (105.0 thousand house calls) or 0.51% of the total number of outpatient visits.

CONCLUSIONS: Mobile clinic programs should be expanded and integrated into the regional healthcare systems and included in emergency preparedness plans to support further development and integration of mobile clinics into the healthcare system.

Keywords

mobile health units / mobile medicine technologies / access to healthcare / healthcare in the COVID-19 pandemic

References

[1] Sheiman IM. Reforma upravleniya i finansirovaniya zdravookhraneniya. Moscow: Rus’; 1998. (In Russ.)

[2] Шейман И.М. Реформа управления и финансирования здравоохранения. Москва: Русь, 1998.

[3] Perkhov VI, Samorodskaya IV, Stupakov IN. K voprosu o kriteriyakh dorogostoyashchei i vysokotekhnologichnoi meditsinskoi pomoshchi. Menedzher Zdravookhraneniya. 2007;(5):22–29. (In Russ).

[4] Перхов В.И., Самородская И.В., Ступаков И.Н. К вопросу о критериях дорогостоящей и высокотехнологичной медицинской помощи // Менеджер здравоохранения. 2007. № 5. С. 22–28.

[5] Ulumbekova GE, Ginoyan AB, Kalashnikova AV, Alvianskaya NV. Healthcare financing in Russia (2021-2024). Facts and suggestions. Healthcare Management: News. Views. Education. Bulletin of VSHOUZ. 2019;5(4):4–19. (In Russ). doi: 10.24411/2411-8621-2019-14001

[6] Улумбекова Г.Э., Гиноян А.Б., Калашникова А.В., Альвианская Н.В. Финансирование здравоохранения в России (2021–2024 гг.). Факты и предложения // ОРГЗДРАВ: Новости. Мнения. Обучение. Вестник ВШОУЗ. 2019. Т. 5, № 4. С. 4–19. doi: 10.24411/2411-8621-2019-14001

[7] Kalininskaya AA, Bayanova NA, Sulkina FA. Mobile medical complexes in village conditions. Sovremennye problemy zdravookhraneniya i meditsinskoi statistiki. 2019;(1):144–154. (In Russ).

[8] Калининская А.А., Баянова Н.А., Сулькина Ф.А. Передвижные медицинские комплексы в условиях села // Современные проблемы здравоохранения и медицинской статистики. 2019. № 1. С. 144–154.

[9] World Health Organization. Repurposing facilities for isolation and management of mild COVID-19 cases. Manila: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific; 2020.

[10] World Health Organization. Repurposing facilities for isolation and management of mild COVID-19 cases. Manila: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, 2020.

[11] Gibson BA, Ghosh D, Morano JP, Altice FL. Accessibility and utilization patterns of a mobile medical clinic among vulnerable populations. Health Place. 2014;28:153–166. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2014.04.008

[12] Gibson B.A., Ghosh D., Morano J.P., Altice F.L. Accessibility and utilization patterns of a mobile medical clinic among vulnerable populations // Health Place. 2014. Vol. 28. P. 153–166. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2014.04.008

[13] Krol DM, Redlener M, Shapiro A, Wajnberg A. A Mobile Medical Care Approach Targeting Underserved Populations in post-Hurricane Katrina Mississippi. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2007;18(2):331–340. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2007.0038

[14] Krol D.M., Redlener M., Shapiro A., Wajnberg A. A Mobile Medical Care Approach Targeting Underserved Populations in post-Hurricane Katrina Mississippi // J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2007. Vol. 18, N 2. P. 331–340. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2007.0038

[15] George B, Terry NP. Protecting the vulnerable substance use disorder population during COVID-19. 2020 March 26 [cited 2022 May 12] In: Harvard Law bill of Health [Internet]. Petrie-Flom Center at Harvard Law School. Available from: https://blog.petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2020/03/26/protecting-substance-use-disorder-population-covid-19/

[16] George B., Terry N.P. Protecting the vulnerable substance use disorder population during COVID-19. 26.04.2020 [дата обращения 12.05.2022]. В: Harvard Law bill of Health [Internet]. Petrie-Flom Center at Harvard Law School. Режим доступа: https://blog.petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2020/03/26/protecting-substance-use-disorder-population-covid-19/

[17] Volkow ND. Collision of the COVID-19 and Addiction Epidemics. Ann Intern Med. 2020;173(1):61–62. doi: 10.7326/m20-1212

[18] Volkow N.D. Collision of the COVID-19 and Addiction Epidemics // Ann Intern Med. 2020. Vol. 173, N 1. P. 61-62. doi: 10.7326/m20-1212

[19] Galea S, Merchant RM, Lurie N. The Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 and Physical Distancing. JAMA Intern Med. 2020;180(6). doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.1562

[20] Galea S., Merchant R.M., Lurie N. The Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 and Physical Distancing // JAMA Intern Med. 2020. Vol. 180, N 6. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.1562

[21] Higier A, Arbide A, Awaad A, et al. Design, development and deployment of a hybrid renewable energy powered mobile medical clinic with automated modular control system. Renewable Energy. 2013;50:847–857. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2012.07.036

[22] Higier A., Arbide A., Awaad A., et al. Design, development and deployment of a hybrid renewable energy powered mobile medical clinic with automated modular control system // Renewable Energy. 2013. Vol. 50, P. 847–857. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2012.07.036

[23] Oboler SK, Blieden MA, Carter SA, et al. A Mobile Internal Medicine Clinic. Arch Intern Med. 1983;143(1):97–99. doi: 10.1001/archinte.1983.00350010103018

[24] Oboler S.K., Blieden M.A., Carter S.A., et al. A Mobile Internal Medicine Clinic // Arch Intern Med. 1983. Vol. 143, N 1. P. 97–99. doi: 10.1001/archinte.1983.00350010103018

[25] Garichev S, Klassen V, Natenzon M, et al. Mobile Telemedicine Systems with Artificial Medical Intelligence // 2019 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence: Applications and Innovations (IC-AIAI). P:8–83. doi: 10.1109/IC-AIAI48757.2019.00008

[26] Garichev S., Klassen V., Natenzon M., et al. Mobile Telemedicine Systems with Artificial Medical Intelligence // 2019 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence: Applications and Innovations (IC-AIAI). P. 8–83. doi: 10.1109/IC-AIAI48757.2019.00008

[27] Popova AY, Ezhlova EB, Demina YV, et al. Mobile Complexes of the Specialized Anti-Epidemic Teams (SAET) of the Rospotrebnadzor as an Effective Tool in the Implementation of Measures to Counter New Coronavirus Infection COVID-19. Problems of Particularly Dangerous Infections. 2020;4:92–98. (In Russ). doi: 10.21055/0370-1069-2020-4-92-98

[28] Попова А.Ю., Ежлова Е.Б., Демина Ю.В., и др. Мобильные комплексы СПЭБ Роспотребнадзора как действенный инструмент при реализации мероприятий по противодействию новой коронавирусной инфекции COVID-19 // Проблемы особо опасных инфекций. 2020. № 4. С. 92–98. doi: 10.21055/0370-1069-2020-4-92-98

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Eco-Vector