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Impact Story | Innovations in Mobile Health: Bringing Services Directly to Oregon Communities

What if healthcare came to you—literally? CLHO’s recent webinar explored how Oregon counties are innovating with mobile health units to break down barriers and deliver services where people live, work, and gather.

On December 10th, 2025, CLHO hosted the webinar “Innovations in Mobile Health,” facilitated by Madison Riethman, former CLHO staff member and current Deputy Director at Columbia County Public Health. The webinar brought together public health leaders from across Oregon to share strategies, challenges, and opportunities in mobile health service delivery.

Expanding Access Through Collaboration: Dr. Richard Bruno, Health Officer for Multnomah County, presented an ambitious tri-county initiative to improve mobile health service coordination. Key innovations include:

  • A mobile app providing real-time updates on health service locations
  • Integrated public health data systems to identify service gaps
  • Regional collaboration expanding beyond the tri-county area

This approach recognizes that health needs don’t respect county boundaries—and neither should our solutions.

Making It Work: Columbia County’s Experience: Madison Riethman shared practical strategies from Columbia County’s mobile unit program:

  • Template partnership agreements that streamline collaborations with community providers
  • Vaccine access programs that manage immunizations and billing through provider agreements
  • Community paramedicine initiatives that reduce hospital visits by addressing underlying health issues at their source

“Mobile units don’t just deliver clinical services,” Riethman explained. “They raise public awareness about available health resources and build trust with communities who might not otherwise access traditional healthcare settings.”

Challenges and Solutions: Participants candidly discussed obstacles facing mobile health programs:

  • Funding constraints and sustainability concerns
  • Staffing shortages in already-stretched health departments
  • Complex billing and reimbursement systems
  • Ensuring adequate follow-up care after rapid testing or screenings

Yet counties are finding creative solutions. Clackamas County is pursuing Rural Health Transformation Grant funding, while Marion County is developing better follow-up protocols for mobile services.

Building Infrastructure and Support: The Oregon Mobile Integrated Healthcare Coalition is leading statewide efforts to strengthen mobile health infrastructure, recently securing a $1 million federal grant focused on enhancing rural health services. Legislative advocacy continues around House Bill 2222 (2025), with plans to pursue funding and operational support in future sessions.

The Big Picture: Mobile health represents more than convenient service delivery—it’s about health equity. By meeting people where they are, mobile units reach populations facing transportation barriers, childcare challenges, work schedule conflicts, and historical distrust of healthcare systems.

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