LifeBridge Health Launches "Care Happens Here" Mobile Unit to Provide Vulnerable Communities with Access to COVID-19 Testing, Senior and Pediatric Care, and More
Baltimore, MD- LifeBridge Health today announced the launch of its "Care Happens Here" mobile unit, which will bring a wide range of healthcare testing and treatment services, including COVID-19 vaccinations, to vulnerable communities throughout central Maryland. The new mobile unit will offer a targeted "on the ground" approach to providing COVID-19 testing, medical care (including pediatrics, specialized senior care and post-acute care), as well as immunizations and referrals for further medical and social services.
LifeBridge Health developed the Care Happens Here unit to assess and address social determinants of health and unmet needs in neighborhoods where residents often face multiple barriers to care, including lack of transportation, access to telemedicine resources, inability to afford care or prescriptions, and housing and food insecurity.
The Care Happens Here unit debuts at the same time when LifeBridge Health joined with the Mayor of Baltimore, the City Health Commissioner and other local health partners in a coordinated initiative to use mobile units to bring COVID-19 vaccines to older adults and other priority groups who may have challenges in getting to vaccination clinics.
"At LifeBridge Health, our purpose statement is "˜Caring for Our Communities Together,' and we are proud to join with the City of Baltimore and our fellow health partners in this initiative to bring COVID-19 vaccines into our communities. We are excited to be launching our new "˜Care Happens Here' mobile unit at this same time, as this new mobile resource allows us to bring more of our healthcare services, including vaccinations, directly to the residents we serve," says Rebecca Altman, LifeBridge Health vice president and chief integration officer.
The Care Happens Here unit's first COVID vaccination visit will be Friday, February 19 at Harlem Gardens, a senior living facility in West Baltimore.
"Our Care Happens Here unit is the latest example of our commitment to getting resources into the communities we serve in innovative and practical ways that meet the evolving needs of residents," says Neil Meltzer, president and CEO of LifeBridge Health. "While our team at LifeBridge Health has always been proactive in this regard, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused us to dig deeper to find novel ways to Care Bravely and make a positive impact on the health of our communities."
Unit Serves as "˜Doctor's Office on Wheels'
The customized van includes a mobile treatment room equipped with clinical supplies and equipment found in a typical doctor's office, including:
- A full patient exam table that can accommodate adult and pediatric patients.
- Refrigeration and freezer space for storage of vaccines, including the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
- Technology and connectivity required to record data and support telehealth visits if patients require care from a provider in LifeBridge Health's Virtual Hospital.
- Infant scale as well as a regular scale for weighing adults and children.
- Privacy curtains and window tinting to protect patient privacy.
- Eye-catching custom graphics that signify to area residents that Care Happens Here and resources are available.
Care Happens Here unit visits are scheduled in advance with patients and are targeted using a data-driven approach to get resources to those individuals at greatest risk based on numerous factors, including age, chronic diseases, population density, and social deter