Mobile Health Clinic to Roll Out Across Coos and Grafton Counties to Increase Access to Quality Health Care
Coos & Northern Grafton Counties, NH September 15, 2022 –
The New Hampshire Medical Society and North Country Health Consortium launched the Northern New Hampshire Mobile Health Clinic today with ribbon-cutting celebrations at the four partner hospitals: Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, Littleton Regional Healthcare in Littleton, Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook, and Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster. Point32Health Foundation provided a $500,000 matching grant to launch the initiative, which now has more than $1.1 million committed to implementing the Northern NH Mobile Health Clinic Program.
“The Northern New Hampshire Mobile Health Clinic is a community-based care option that will offer easy-to-access health care for people living in Coos and Grafton counties,” said James Potter, CEO of New Hampshire Medical Society. “This program was developed through a strong community collaboration between four local hospitals, a local not-for-profit health plan and its Foundation, a regional public health network, local businesses, foundations and agencies, and the New Hampshire Medical Society – all invested in working to eliminate barriers to accessing quality health care. The Mobile Health Clinic will be staffed by local community health practitioners offering preventative services such as immunizations, preventive care screenings, primary care medical services, telehealth connectivity and wellness education.”
The Northern NH Mobile Health Clinic, a customized Mercedes 3500DX 4×4 sprinter van designed specifically for clinical services and to navigate North Country winters, will be available to local residents through the four hospital partners and will make stops at locations across northern New Hampshire this fall.
Initially, the clinic will offer the following services:
- Immunizations
- Blood pressure, glucose and other preventive care screenings
- Primary care medical services
- Nutrition and wellness education, smoking cessation programs, and health literacy
- Wi-Fi capability and computer access for telehealth services
- Community connections to guide individuals to local health and social services
“As we kick off the initial phase of this effort, we are seeking input from community members and partner organizations who have a deep understanding of the health disparities across the region,” said Lauren Pearson, executive director of the North Country Health Consortium. “This will help us identify specific locations for the Mobile Health Clinic and determine services that meet local needs and help increase access to quality health care for all. We plan to continue fundraising efforts for long term sustainability.”
Point32Health Foundation, formed by the combination of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation and Tufts Health Plan Foundation, provided the initial $500,000 matching grant to launch the program which now has more than $1.1 million committed to implementing the Northern NH Mobile Health Clinic Program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development has also funded a $281,000 grant to support the program. Along with $50,000 contributions from each of the four hospitals, additional grants and sponsorships have been received from the NH Charitable Foundation, NH Department of Health and Human Services and Fidelity Investments.
“Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Point32Health Foundation are committed to health equity and eliminating barriers to quality health care for all,” said Kate Skouteris, Vice President, NH Market, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, a Point32Health company. “This grant demonstrates support for community-led solutions, and we are grateful to our health care colleagues and the many community organizations that have come together to improve access to affordable health care services and health education in the North Country.”
If your local organization, business, or government body would like to have a briefing about and provide input on future services of the Northern NH Mobile Health Clinic Program, please contact Annette Cole with the North Country Health Consortium at acole@nhcnh.org or 603-259-3700 x241.
Community members are encouraged to visit www.northernnhmobileclinic.org for more information and to provide feedback on future services and locations, or scan the QR code below with your phone’s camera app.
About the New Hampshire Medical Society
Founded in 1791, by Dr. Josiah Bartlett – one of our country’s founding fathers, and the Granite State’s first elected Governor – the New Hampshire Medical Society is dedicated and committed to advocating for patients, physicians, and the medical profession, as well as health-related rights, responsibilities and issues for the betterment of public health in the Granite State.
About the North Country Health Consortium
Created in 1997, the North Country Health Consortium is a rural health network that serves as a vehicle for addressing common issues through collaboration among health and human service providers serving Northern New Hampshire.
About Point32Health Foundation
Building on values of service and giving, Point32Health Foundation works with communities to support, advocate and advance healthier lives for everyone. Point32Health Foundation is the result of the combination of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation and Tufts Health Plan Foundation and advances equity-focused solutions in healthy aging, access to healthy food and behavioral health in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.