Appalachia

The Health Wagon
Website: http://thehealthwagon.org/hwwp/
Area served: Eleven sites in Virginia’s Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, Lee, Scott, and Wise counties (and the City of Norton)
Religious/political affiliations: Unknown; no apparent affiliations.
Video of their work, from a CBS news special: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/on-the-road-with-the-health-wagon/

From their website:

The Health Wagon strives to meet the unique challenges of health care delivery to the medically under-served and indigent in poverty-stricken areas of rural Appalachia. Through the use of this innovative mobile health unit, health care doors are opened to many needy individuals, families, and communities; doors that would have otherwise remained closed.

The Health Wagon visits eleven sites in Southwest Virginia’s Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, and Wise counties on a weekly, biweekly, and monthly basis. Accessibility to culturally sensitive primary health care services that emphasize education and prevention is considered the key to improving the health status for populations residing in these rural areas.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

About Us

◾The Health Wagon is a nonprofit organization providing mobile health services to the medically underserved in Southwest Virginia since 1980.
◾The Health Wagon visits eleven sites in Virginia’s Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, Lee, Scott, and Wise counties (and the City of Norton) to serve a severely medically underserved population.
◾The Health Wagon’s staff consists of two full time certified family nurse practitioners, one registered nurse, two licensed practical nurses, a Director of Operations, a Director of Development, Data Systems Coordinator, and an Administrative Assistant.
◾Every dollar donated to the Health Wagon is approximately $100 reaped in health care benefits.
◾In 2013, the Health Wagon assisted more than 11,000 patients obtain access to care valued at over $1 million.
◾The Health Wagon provides: ◦Acute Disease Management (Colds, Sore Throats)
◦Chronic Disease Management
◦ Hypertension, Diabetes, Dyslipidemia)
◦Low Cost Lab Services
◦Medication Assistance and Pharmacy Connect
◦State of the Art Telemedicine capabilities with University of Virginia Health System with Specialists
◦Physical Assessments
◦Immunization Programs
◦Health Teaching Components
◦Referrals and Follow-up Systems
◦Cardiac Specialty Clinics
◦Nephrology Specialty Clinics with renal ultrasound
◦Lung Cancer Early Detection Program with pulmonology consultation and chest x-ray
◦Women’s Health – Pap Smears and Mammogram Assistance
◦Community Health Fairs
◦Cardiovascular Disease Outreach Screening Programs
◦Remote Area Medical (RAM) Health Expedition
◦Loan Closet for Medical Supplies
◦Dental Clinics
◦Eye Clinics
◦And more…

◾Through partnership with many pharmaceutical companies, the Virginia Health Care Foundation and Mountain Empire Older Citizens Agency, the Health Wagon’s Pharmacy Connect Program provided $1.2 million in pharmacy assistance to patients in 2013.
◾The Health Wagon utilizes an advanced computer system and broadband telecommunications linkage to provide clinical, educational, and other specialty services to patients via telemedicine technologies. As a partnership with the University of Virginia Health System, the network is capable of rapidly transferring patient records and medical images – such as x-rays, CT and MRI scans, ultrasound recordings, and more.