So, your organization is at a crossroads, trying to figure out which mobile healthcare setup is easier: a mobile medical RV or a mobile medical van. You’ve got a lot riding on this decision. You want something effective and easy to set up while not being a nuisance to maintain.
It feels overwhelming, doesn’t it? The options, features, and costs are a lot to take in. But you’re not alone in this. Many organizations, just like yours, face the same tough choice.
Making the wrong choice can lead to:
- Increased setup times
- Higher maintenance costs
- Operational challenges
- Budget overruns
We understand how difficult this decision is. At MoveMobility, we’ve been in the business of manufacturing custom mobile medical vans for over two decades. Our experience has shown us what works and what doesn’t when it comes to mobile healthcare setups. Our engineering team carefully tailors the variety of mobile medical van setups we do to ensure they meet your needs. We’re here to share our expertise with you, helping you make an informed decision that best suits your requirements.
In this article, we’ll break down the easier mobile healthcare setup between mobile medical RVs and mobile medical vans. After you’ve finished reading, you’ll understand which setup is easier to manage and quicker to start with. Ready to dive in? Let’s get started.
What’s involved in setting up a mobile medical RV?
Setting up a mobile medical RV to provide medical services after you park is no small feat. Given their size and complexity, RVs require significant time and effort to get up and running. Here’s a closer look at what’s involved in the setup process:
Parking and leveling
Mobile medical RVs are much larger than vans, and this size difference impacts setup time significantly. When you park a mobile medical RV, you’re dealing with a large, complex vehicle that often requires up to and over two hours to be fully operational.
This includes:
Parking and leveling: Ensuring the RV is parked correctly and leveled is crucial. This can be a time-consuming process, especially in areas with uneven ground.
Deploying slide-outs: Many RVs have slide-outs that expand the interior space. These need to be carefully extended and secured.
Connecting utilities: After you park, you also have utilities to set up. This includes setting up power, water, and waste management systems. People who haven’t used these connections much before might find them somewhat complicated and time-consuming.
Interior setup
Inside the RV, there’s more work to be done. Medical equipment needs to be unpacked and supplies organized.
This process includes:
Stocking supplies: Ensuring all medical supplies are in place and easily accessible is important for efficient operations.
Setting up workstations: Workstations for staff need to be arranged. This includes setting up computers, ensuring internet connectivity, and organizing patient records. If your mobile medical RV has multiple rooms, that will reflect how long your mobile healthcare setup takes.
Additional setup tasks
There are several other tasks specific to mobile medical RVs that can add to the setup time:
Climate control: Given the larger interior space, adjusting and maintaining the right temperature can take more time and effort. Proper climate control is essential to ensure a comfortable environment for patients and staff.
Sanitation systems: Mobile medical RVs often need extensive sanitation systems set up, including toilets and handwashing stations.
Patient areas: Setting up patient areas, including examination rooms and waiting areas, requires careful organization.
This involves:
- Rearranging furniture or equipment
- Ensuring privacy partitions are in place if there are no separate rooms
- Making sure all necessary medical tools are within reach
The setup time for a mobile medical RV can be a major drawback for some organizations. Spending up to and over two hours to get everything ready can really cut into the time available for patient care.
This is a big factor to consider when deciding between a mobile medical RV and a van. If you’re on the hunt for a fast and efficient way to get a mobile healthcare setup rolling, you might be surprised by how complex and time-consuming it is to get an RV ready for medical services.
Next, let’s look at the mobile healthcare setup involved in mobile medical vans.
How long is the mobile healthcare setup for mobile medical vans?
Setting up a mobile medical van is much quicker and simpler than setting up a mobile medical RV. The setup time may vary depending on the services your team provides and the equipment you need to set up. Let’s break down the process and the time it typically takes.
Quick and efficient setup
For healthcare teams using the van as a self-contained space, setup can take 2 minutes or less. If your team needs to create an outdoor waiting area that includes setting up an awning, it’ll take around 15 minutes.
What are the steps for setting up a mobile medical van?
While not every mobile medical van will follow all these steps, here’s a general guide to the basic setup process:
Find a good place to set up your unit: Choose a location that balances your clients’ need for privacy with your team members’ need for safety and accessibility.
Power up your electrical systems and medical equipment: Once parked, turn on the electrical systems to get your medical equipment ready for use.
Deploy the awning and set up outside (if necessary): If your setup includes an outdoor waiting area, extend the awning and arrange any tables, chairs, and signage outside the van.
Configure the van’s interior: Arrange seats and supplies inside the van to ensure everything is in the right place and ready for use.
Prepare the sink (if applicable): If your van includes a sink, make sure the water canister is filled and the gray water tank is empty. This step is typically done before setting off, but it’s crucial to double-check.
Quick setup scenarios
To give you a clearer idea of the setup involved, here are a couple of scenarios:
1. Your team arrives at an event, parks the mobile medical unit, and turns on the power. They open their laptop on the desk, and in about 2 minutes, they’re ready to start seeing patients. This is perfect for when you need minimal equipment for consultations or check-ups.
2. Your team parks the van in a busy parking lot and extends the awning. They set up a few chairs and tables under the awning, place some signs to guide patients, and power up the interior equipment. In about 15 minutes, everything is set up, and you’re ready to provide a comfortable waiting area for patients who need to wait outside.
Mobile medical vans offer a much faster and simpler setup compared to mobile medical RVs. Whether you’re setting up a self-contained space in just a couple of minutes or creating an outdoor waiting area in about 15 minutes, the process is straightforward and efficient. This quick setup time means more time for patient care and less time spent on logistical challenges.
Which healthcare setup should you choose?
Choosing a mobile medical van can really boost how efficiently you run your healthcare services.
Quick setup: With these vans being ready to go in just minutes, this quick setup means you can start seeing patients right away and help more people each day. This means more vaccinations, more screenings, and a bigger impact on the community.
Streamlined operations: Less time on setup and maintenance means also your team spends less time dealing with logistics. This results in shorter waiting lines and a smoother service for everyone.
Flexibility in location: The easy setup allows you to move your mobile clinic to different locations quickly. This means you can respond faster to where the need is greatest and provide care in areas that might not otherwise have access.
Final thoughts on the mobile healthcare setup between RVs vs. vans
You came to this article to figure out whether a mobile medical RV or a mobile medical van is the easier mobile healthcare setup. We’ve walked you through both options’ complexities and setup times, helping you understand the key differences.
After reading this article, you now know that mobile medical RVs, while spacious, take significantly longer to set up compared to mobile medical vans. On the other hand, mobile medical vans offer a much quicker and more efficient setup, making them a practical choice for many organizations.
At MoveMobility, we’ve been leaders in manufacturing custom mobile medical vans for over a decade. Our expertise and commitment to innovation ensure that our vans meet the highest standards of quality and efficiency. We get the challenges you’re dealing with, and we’re all in to help make mobile healthcare simpler and more reachable for you.
Do you think mobile medical vans may be the route your organization will take? Why not read through our article on the cost of a mobile medical van to learn how much you can expect to pay?
Or, take a look at the warranty you can expect for our mobile medical vans.
We’re here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions or need further guidance, click the button below to talk to a mobility expert. Let’s work together to bring healthcare to those who need it most.
