The Health Wagon

The Health Wagon, which may also be referred to as St. Mary's Health Wagon, is a nonprofit organization providing free health care to those in the Appalachian Mountains of southwest Virginia. Since 1980, it has been operated by a small team of nurses who provide services to residents in six neighboring counties. Services are distributed in any of their three mobile units or two stationary clinics servicing Virginia's Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, Lee, Scott, and Wise counties (and the city of Norton). [1]

St. Mary's Health Wagon
SuccessorDr. Teresa Owens Tyson, DNP
FounderSister Bernadette Kenny
TypeNonprofit Free Clinic
Location
  • Smiddy Clinic
    5626 Patriot Drive
    Wise, Virginia 24293
Region
Southwest Virginia
Revenue
$1.6 million
Websitehttps://thehealthwagon.org/

History

In 1980, with the aid of St. Mary's Hospital of Norton, Sister Bernadette Kenny was able to cover the initial costs to distribute medication out of the back of her Volkswagen Beetle.[1] The inception of the clinic began with her and continued to grow to provide primary and specialty care services to those in the secluded mountainous region of southwest Virginia. Dr. Teresa Tyson, the first staff recruit, increased their resources to become largely accessible and act as a safety net for the residents. Over the next three decades, the Health Wagon has acquired four mobile van units and established two stationary clinics.[2]

Presently, the clinic is a $1.6 million dollar nonprofit.[3]

Clinic Structure

The clinic staff structure consists of Doctors of Nursing Practitioners, Family Nurse Practitioners, a Dentist, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, an Outreach Coordinator, a Director of Operations, an Administrative Assistant, a Director of Development, a IT Director, and Receptionists”.[4] As of 2019, they have employed their first full-time dentist.

Geography and Population
Flag Rock Overlook in Norton, Virginia.
Data reported for 2017 & 2018 [5]VirginiaService Area
Adult Obesity28%31%
Teen Birth Rate21.045.8
High School Diploma or higher89%76%
Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2017 [6] Service AreaVirginiaUnited States
Median household income$35,469$71,518$60,336
All ages in poverty23.5%10.7%13.4%

The southwest portion of Virginia defines itself by its location in the Central Appalachian Mountains. The geographical isolation from its eastern counterparts has contributed to a number of barriers. Among these challenges are high levels of substance abuse, job shortages, declining populations, healthcare professional shortages, food insecurity, low literacy/education, and transportation limitations. The area has been heavily influenced by the coal mining industry and its decline over the years.

As of January 1st, 2019, the state of Virginia has adopted and implemented Medicaid Expansion. [7]

Funding and Partnerships

Although St. Mary's Hospital was the Health Wagon's initial source for funding, financial support is primarily contracted through grant work, foundations and private contributions. Of these numerous funding opportunities, a Federal Office of Rural Health Policy grant supported the clinic from 2009-2012.[1] The federal funds allowed the clinic to supplement salaries, improve community education resources, and the inclusion of an electronical medical records system.[8] Through multiple established partnerships with organizations and universities, the Health Wagon has been able to offer services, not locally available. Partnering with the University of Virginia, a telemedicine connection was made possible through the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center. Since 2004, it has enabled the Health Wagon to offer secondary and tertiary services, such as “pulmonology, radiology, cardiology, endocrinology, ostomy, nephrology, ear nose and throat, women’s health (colposcopy), mental health and dermatology”.[9] The AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation has been a repeat supporter of the Health Wagon. The money granted goes on to support their Expansion of Heart Health 1, 2, 3. Comprehensive Cardiovascular Disease Initiative for Diabetes Mellitus, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity program.[10]

The first ever FAA-approved Flirtey delivery drone made its debut pharmaceutical drop in 2015 at the Wise County Fairgrounds during the largest free medical outreach in the nation, M7 Move Mountains Medical Mission (Formally Wise RAM). It now is kept at the Smithsonian. [11]

By teaming up with Remote Area Medical, the Health Wagon was able to initiate an annual three-day community health fair. However, in a July 13, 2019 announcement, the Health Wagon announced their promoted position as the primary host in a renamed event, Move Mountains Medical Mission (M7).[12] This announcement comes after nearly twenty years of joint collaboration. The Philips Foundation, CVS Pharmacy and Aetna Foundation have continuously supported this outreach event and have gone as far as donating an ultrasound machine for the mobile chest X-ray van along with personal and home goods for those in attendance.[13]

Appalachian Regional Commission is currently funding half a million dollars for the construction of a 5,000 square foot clinic in Dickenson County.[14]

In the Media

The Health Wagon has garnered recognition including interviews from media that include:

  • 60 Minutes,[15]
  • Nightline,
  • CBS Nightly News,
  • Inside Edition,
  • Washington Post,
  • New York Times,
  • U.S. News
  • The RACE
  • Governing
  • Lifetime, “Her America”,
  • NBC News.[16]

This also includes presentations given by the Executive and Clinical Directors at the United Nations[17] and the World Health Organization.

References
  1. "Rural Health Information Hub". Rural Project Summary: The Health Wagon. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  2. "Health Wagon Lands Funding". Coalfield Progress. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  3. "Gold Foundation Honors 3 Extraordinary Nurses at International Nurses Day at the United Nations". The Arnold P. Gold Foundation. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  4. "About Us". The Health Wagon. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  5. "Health Data". United Way of Southwest Virginia.
  6. United States Census Bureau. "Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE)". United States Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  7. Jan 10, Published (10 January 2020). "Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions: Interactive Map". The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
  8. "Health Wagon Lands Funding". Coalfield Progress. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  9. "The Health Wagon: A Telehealth Resource in a Rural Wilderness". mHealthIntelligence. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  10. "Connections for Cardiovascular Health: 2018 Foundation Grant Awardees" (PDF). AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  11. Lim, Jason. "Flirtey Demos World's First Drone Delivery Tech In U.S." Forbes.
  12. Tate, Jenay. "Health wagon launches renamed outreach; move mountains medical missions to team with mission of mercy dental clinic". Coalfield Progress. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  13. "From RAM to Move Mountains: Annual Wise County free clinic enters new phase". Kingsport Times-News. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  14. "ARC green-lights funds for new health wagon facility in dickenson". TimesNewsOnline. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  15. "On the road with the health wagon". CBS News. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  16. "In Appalachia, the doctor comes on wheels". NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group. 5 October 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  17. "2018 at the UN". Nurses With Global Impact Inc. 29 March 2018.
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