Research
The GMHRC National Mobile Health Survey
The National Mobile Health Survey collects data on the operations, finances, and services of mobile health programs across the United States. The May 2026 survey cut includes 142 programs operating 338 mobile units in 38 states.
The survey addresses basic questions that have been difficult to answer with national data: what mobile programs cost to operate, where their revenue comes from, how often they provide services, how long patients wait, and which barriers limit their work.
What the survey covers
| Measure | May 2026 cut |
|---|---|
| Programs responding | 142 |
| Mobile units operated | 338 |
| States represented | 38 |
| Average patient visits a year | 2,486 |
| Published views | 19 |
The survey covers six areas: who operates each program and how long it has been running; services provided; populations and locations served; weekly days, hours, and locations; operating costs and sources of revenue; and barriers to operating and sustaining the program.
Selected findings
Many mobile programs have operated for years. Among 142 responding programs, 48.6% had been operating for five years or longer, and another 42.3% had been operating for more than one year but less than five years.
Financial sustainability is the most commonly reported barrier. Among 142 responding programs, 38.7% identified financial sustainability as a leading barrier, followed by staffing at 30.3%.
Programs rely on several sources of revenue. Among the 51 programs that provided usable financial data, philanthropy accounted for an average of 28.9% of program income, followed by state grants at 24.3% and Medicaid at 15.7%.
Reported wait times are generally short. Among 91 responding programs, 70.3% reported that patients usually waited 15 minutes or less.
Preventive screening is the most commonly reported service. Among 91 responding programs, 82.4% provided preventive health screenings and 64.8% provided primary care.
Response counts vary by question. Each figure on the dashboard identifies the number of programs included in the calculation. See the full findings.
How the data is collected
Programs submit data through a structured questionnaire. GMHRC recruits participants through its partner network, state and regional associations, and direct outreach to program leaders. Any mobile health program in the United States may participate, regardless of the type of organization that operates it. Respondents include community health centers, hospitals, universities, free clinics, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
The dashboard is rebuilt from the current response set each month.
Full detail on recruitment, response bases, and how figures are calculated is on themethodology page.
Using the findings
All findings are available on the dashboard without a fee or account. You may quote or cite them. Each chart states the number of programs included, and citations should include that number.
Response-level data are not published. Programs provide staffing, cost, and revenue data in confidence. Protecting that information is essential to maintaining their trust and continued participation.
Researchers interested in working with response-level data should contact GMHRC. Requests are reviewed individually. Approved access is structured as a research partnership with an agreed research question, defined roles, and a data use agreement.
How to cite
Global Mobile Healthcare Research Consortium. National Mobile Health Survey, May 2026 cut. https://www.gmhrc.org/survey/
Add your program
The survey is open to any mobile health program in the United States. Taking part gives your program a benchmark for comparison and makes the national picture more complete.
Add your program, or ask about working with the response-level data
GMHRC helps researchers and mobile healthcare programs find each other and plan work that is useful to both.