Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40007518›Full record

ArticleHealth services insights2025

A National Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) Program to Address the Healthcare Needs of Veterans Experiencing Homelessness: An Evaluation Protocol.

Jillian J Weber, Rebecca L Kinney, Jill S Roncarati, Kenneth Bruemmer, Monica Diaz, Jill Albanese

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health services insights, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jillian J WeberU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Homeless Programs Office, Washington, DC, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3206-6605
Rebecca L KinneyU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, Washington, DC, USA.
Jill S RoncaratiVA Bedford Healthcare System, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, Bedford, MA, USA.
Kenneth BruemmerU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Homeless Programs Office, Washington, DC, USA.
Monica DiazU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Homeless Programs Office, Washington, DC, USA.
Jill AlbaneseU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Homeless Programs Office, Washington, DC, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Homelessness remains a public health concern in the United States (U.S.) and ending veteran homelessness has been a significant priority for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for over a decade. However, veterans experiencing homelessness (VEH) have unmet healthcare needs and face numerous barriers to accessing and engaging in healthcare. Objectives: The Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) Homeless Programs Office (HPO) implemented mobile medical units (MMUs) within the tailored primary care model established in 2011 called the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) program to expand access to care for hard-to-reach VEH. This article outlines the evaluation protocol for the HPACT MMU program to examine the impact of MMUs on engaging and retaining homeless veterans in VA primary care and other supportive services. Design: Using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, we will assess how mobile services engage VEH in VA primary care and preventive care. This 4-year program evaluation includes a plan to collect individual and organizational level quantitative and qualitative data. Discussion: The first stages of program adoption and implementation have been completed resulting in 25 MMUs being deployed across the U.S. that are fully operational and ready to serve VEH. Early outcomes demonstrate the significant impact of the ability MMUs in reducing barriers such as transportation for VEH, while increasing positive veteran health outcomes. Conclusion: This evaluation will provide insight on the innovative ways in which mobile medical units (MMUs) may expand the boundaries of the VA and external health care systems in efforts to improve health equity and access among our most vulnerable populations. Preliminary outcomes show significant engagement with VEH in the community and interest in the model of care. The program has the potential to play an essential role in achieving VA's goal of ending veteran homelessness.

Indexed as

accessHomelessnessmobile medical unitprimary careprogram evaluationveteran

Identifiers

PMID40007518
PMCPMC11851793

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.