Page 32 - 2021 MHA Start-up Guide

For help calculating ROI, the Mobile Health Map (mobilehealthmap .org), a collaborative and
crowd-sourced online resource, provides a calculator you can use to demonstrate your pro-
gram’s cost-savings impact on the healthcare system . Other key performance indicators (KPIs)
you may wish to track include:

• Identification of previously undiagnosed conditions including chronic care needs
• Recurrence of targeted condition (e.g., asthma attacks)
• Predictable volume of clients served over time
• Correspondence of client demographics to those known to suffer from health disparities
• Consistency in reaching target client population
• Number of referrals to local clinics or other assistance organizations
• Number of people participating in community health events
• Impact on awareness level for a particular health issue
• ED visits prevented/diverted (and financial burden eased on healthcare system)
• Cost and value of donated time or services

Risk Analysis
They say failing to plan is planning to fail, but when it comes to mobile healthcare programs, the
more accurate aphorism might be, “failing to plan is planning for catastrophe .” Mobile programs
are complex, and risks can remain hidden until it’s too late to mitigate them . You will want to plan
for major threats to your program ahead of time . We’ll review some of these risks below, with a
more detailed, day-to-day list in the breakout section .

Risk 1: Staffing
Let’s face it, “mobile healthcare team member” is a unique job — part
Mobile health vehicles mechanical, part clinical, an amalgamation of hard and soft skills,
can resemble controlled cultural awareness, and clinical know-how . Mobile health vehicles

chaos at the best of times, can resemble controlled chaos at the best of times, and finding
and finding people who are people who are flexible enough to handle it all, in a small space,
is no small thing. The wrong staff member can negatively impact
flexible enough to handle a client experience, and thus their health . Or, they can negatively
it all, in a small space, impact team dynamics and destroy team morale. A staffer who isn’t
is no small thing. willing to cross-train can clog up processes and reduce efficiency.
One who can’t read warning signs from a client may put the whole
team in danger .

In short, every one of your staff members must be thoroughly vetted, credentialed, trained and
held accountable .

Risk 2: Partners
As with staff, due diligence is required when interviewing potential partner organizations. Their
value to your program is in the depth of their community knowledge, the degree to which they are
trusted in the population and their ability to attract clients and provide help with logistics . If they
fail on any of these points, it could severely impact your ability to serve your clients .

30 MOBILE HEALTH CARE PROGRAM STAR T-UP GUIDE