Ventanillas de Salud (VDS) and Mobile Health Units (MHU): A binational collaborative models

Abstract

Over the years, the Mexican population in the United States has faced high prevalence of health-related inequalities and disadvantages and represents one of the most vulnerable migrant groups in the country. To help reduce the gaps in health care for the Mexican population, the Mexican government, in collaboration with strategic allies from various sectors, launched the Ventanillas de Salud (VDS) strategy, which was subsequently reinforced through the Mobile Health Units (MHU) care model. Both the VDS strategy and the MHU care model are intended to contribute to the development of initiatives, projects, and actions in health that will benefit the Mexican community living in the United States, which lacks or has difficulty accessing health services. This article provides a descriptive, analytical analysis of the VDS strategy and the MHU care model, as unique collaborative models, which can be replicated, and have achieved a positive impact on the health of Mexican and other Hispanic communities in the United States, at both the individual and community level.

Barriers and facilitators to mental health promotion for Mexican immigrants in the U.S. through the Ventanillas de Salud program

“…The VDS is a program funded by the government of Mexico and implemented in the US to facilitate access to primary and preventive health services to Mexican immigrants. There are currently 49 VDS and two mobile units operating in the Mexican consular network in the US ( 13 ). According to information from the Mexican Ministry of Health, between 2013 and 2018, the VDS program served over 9 million people, providing more than 25 million individual services ( 8 ).…”

“…According to information from the Mexican Ministry of Health, between 2013 and 2018, the VDS program served over 9 million people, providing more than 25 million individual services ( 8 ). More recently, in the period from January 2019 to June 2021, 14 million services were provided to 5 million people ( 13 ).…”

“…The VDS plays a critical role in the preventive care of recent immigrants, providing health education, cardiometabolic risk screenings, and referrals to community resources or healthcare to millions of Mexican and other Latino immigrants that would otherwise not have ready access to these services ( 12 ). According to the latest evaluation of the program in 2020, the VDS provided screenings for cardiometabolic risk factors (hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and overweight) to more than 500,000 Latino immigrants in 2019 ( 13 ). While the specific impact of the VDS screening program on health outcomes has not been evaluated, screening for cardiometabolic risk factors in combination with appropriate referrals is an evidence-based intervention has been shown to increase preventive behaviors, improve quality of life, and linkage to care ( 14 ).…”