ChristianaCare Rolls Out New Mobile Health Services Vans Supported by Barclays
Expanding community care throughout Delaware with health care on wheels
To create a new way to bring care to where people need it throughout Delaware, ChristianaCare rolled out two Mobile Health Services vans. The vans are supported by Barclays with a $1 million investment as part of its COVID-19 Community Aid Package.
“Meeting our neighbors where they are means we can reach people who may have difficulty accessing the care they need,” said Janice Nevin, M.D., MPH, president and CEO of ChristianaCare.
“These vans are a key part of furthering ChristianaCare’s mission to make a positive impact on health in all the communities we serve. We are grateful for the support from Barclays for the generous donation that makes this innovative program possible.”
Dr. Nevin and Denny Nealon, CEO of Barclays US Consumer Bank, along with other local leaders unveiled the vans outside of Neighborhood House in Wilmington’s Southbridge neighborhood, one of many underserved communities that will benefit from this service.
“Barclays is proud to support these mobile health vehicles as part of our COVID-19 Community Aid Package, which will help address some of the systemic issues resulting from the pandemic by making quality health care more accessible in our local communities where it is needed most,” said Nealon.
Care that comes to you
ChristianaCare expects to have 30,000 patient interactions through the vans over the first three years. Of those visits, 15,000 are expected to be for COVID-19 vaccinations. The Mobile Health Services vans will provide a variety of medical services including vaccinations, diabetic retinopathy screenings, OB-GYN services, sports physicals and behavioral health appointments.
Patients will experience hybrid care, both on wheels and via video. In addition to same-day medical services provided on the vans, patients will be able to connect with a care team via a virtual visit. Patients may also be referred to further in-person or virtual services following the appointment on the van.
“Getting care on a Mobile Health Services van is not a one-time event, but rather a chance to build a relationship that changes the course of an individual’s health and wellness,” said Sarah Schenck, M.D., FACP, medical director of Virtualist Medicine at ChristianaCare’s Center for Virtual Health.
Driving an innovative solution
“We’ve learned a lot through the COVID-19 pandemic—and one of the most important learnings has been the urgent need to embed equity into everything we do,” Dr. Nevin said.
“Transportation is one of the most common reasons that people aren’t able to access care. These specially equipped vehicles will allow us to bring care them.”
—Janice Nevin, M.D., MPH
“Over the past two years, we’ve seen that people of color are less likely to be vaccinated and more likely to die from COVID-19.
“The reasons for these inequities are complex, but as health care professionals, we know how to approach complex problems and develop solutions. These vans are a part of that work.
“We know that transportation is one of the most common reasons that people aren’t able to access care. These specially equipped vehicles will allow us to bring care them.”
