Mobile Health Care Programs and Services

Mobile Health Care Programs and Services: Bringing Health Care To Our Community!

 In November 2018, Whittier Street Health Center launched an outreach-focused Mobile Health Van. The original Mobile Health Van was used primarily for infectious disease testing, counseling and outreach to individuals at highest risk for HIV, HCV and STIs. Today, Whittier’s Mobile Health Program has grown to a fleet of four health vans, with the newest addition of a fully equipped Mobile Unit with two exam rooms, a bathroom and a lab. The pivotal expansion of the Mobile Health Program exemplifies Whittier Street Health Center’s mission to serve as a center of excellence that provides high quality, and accessible health care and social services that achieve health equity, social justice, and the economic well-being of our diverse patient populations. Through our Mobile Health Program, we are able to meet individuals where they are, and to engage, educate and empower community members to transform and improve their lives. The Mobile Health Program provides routine and preventative primary care services, Oral Health care and screenings for early detection of chronic illnesses, including depression, substance misuse, diabetes and hypertension to close the gaps in life expectancies for low-income communities of color and immigrant populations

 MOBILE HEALTH CARE UNIT SERVICES:

•  Physicals for adults and Pediatric well visits
• Blood sugar screenings
• Blood pressure screenings
• Cholesterol screenings
• Vision screenings
• Hearing screenings
• Depression and Substance Misuse screening
• Follow-up health care services
• Health Education
• Linkage to all Whittier medical, specialty and social services
• Assistance with MassHealth enrollment

MOBILE ORAL HEALTH VAN SERVICES:

• Conduct patient-specific oral health risk assessments on all patients.
• Identify patient-specific conditions and medical treatments that impact oral health.
• Identify patient-specific, oral conditions and diseases that impact overall health.
• Integrate epidemiology of caries, periodontal diseases, oral cancer, and common oral trauma into the risk assessment.
• Perform oral health evaluations linking patient history, risk assessment, and clinical presentation.
• Identify and prioritize strategies to prevent or mitigate risk impact for oral and systemic diseases.

MOBILE INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND SPECIAL POPULATIONS (IDSP) HEALTH VAN SERVICES: 

• Provide confidential space for HIV testing
• Provide a non-judgmental and supportive environment to discuss HIV and PrEP
• Extend support to HIV patients by linking them to appropriate medical care and support, including treatment.
• Offer information about various community resources, education, and referrals to social services.

Whittier’s Mobile Health Unit can be tailored to assess and address the specific health needs of faith-based communities, Housing developments, Community-based organizations, Schools, Women’s Health programs, Senior and Elder services, youth and adolescent services, as well as corporations/employers. If interested in learning more about Whittier’s Mobile Health Program or to schedule one of our vans at your site, please contact Mobile Health Care team via email at: Mobile Health Services @wshc.org or by calling (617) 989-3212.