Mobile Health Vans

Each of Health Care Service Corporation’s (HCSC) Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans operates a mobile health van program that partners with other organizations to address significant health care needs in its state.

The Program

Through partnerships with state health departments, each mobile health program delivers innovative outreach efforts that address the needs of their local constituencies.  The focus is always on building healthy communities through basic services, educational outreach and health promotion.  In each case, childhood immunizations are a primary service, however activities also include the promotion of fitness and nutrition at sporting events, the dissemination of bilingual health information flyers, dental screenings and sealants for homeless people as well as outreach to underserved populations in rural areas.

The mobile health vans are a vital resource that enables the plans to provide better access to public health services. The programs complement traditional “brick and mortar” clinics by visiting schools, churches, restaurants, recreational parks, shopping centers, public housing, community events and other community locations. They conduct immunization outreach clinics in the communities where mostly at-risk families live and work.

Community Impact

HCSC operates nearly 20 mobile health vans in each of its plans' states.  Here are just a few examples of their successes:

• In January 2006, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois initially lent a CareVan to support post-Katrina health relief efforts. BCBSIL subsequently donated that CareVan to a federally qualified health clinic in New Orleans to support their on-going efforts to address critical public health issues in Louisiana.
• Through a creative media partnership with Radio Disney, the New Mexico Care Van holds a monthly clinic and health education event with BCBSNM providers and employers. In addition, Care Van clinics are partnering with the Navajo Nation and with Federally Qualified Health Clinics.
• Since 1999, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma Caring Van Program has provided free immunizations to children through clinics held at child care facilities, schools, social service agencies and other community locations.
• The Texas Care Van program has screened and given immunizations to hundreds of thousands of children.  It also provides additional health screenings including blood pressure checks, glucose screenings, body fat analysis and strength testing.

The mobile health van programs are a fundamental element of HCSC’s community outreach. As a multi-state organization, there is tremendous value in having a corporate initiative that can be customized to meet the unique demographic, geographic and resource needs of each local community. Through experience working with local community partners in four states, HCSC has learned how to create a balanced program that establishes a unifying structure for corporate community involvement and optimizes local investment. The best results are achieved in a healthy exchange of corporate guidance and grassroots creativity.