Wellness on Wheels WOW

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Wellness on Wheels (WOW?)

• Four Years of Providing
• Immunizations
• In A Mobile Health Van
• Lessons Learned
• Presented by
• Irene Litwak, MPA
  Seneca Esposti, BA

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Wellness on Wheels (WOW?)
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(No Transcript)
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WOW? Staff
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(No Transcript)
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Why Wellness on Wheels? To address health care
barriers due to

• Poverty / working poor
• Education
• Culture / language
• Lack of insurance / under-insurance
• Minority

These were identified and the service was
inaugurated in July 1997.
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Mission of WOW?

• To provide immediate primary
• care, prevention services and
• outreach.

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Objectives

• Promote immunization
• Increase access to health care for uninsured/
  under-insured
• Provide health education and screening services
• Assist patients in finding a permanent medical
  provider
• Early detection and treatment

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Services

• Well Child physicals
• Schools physicals
• Sport physicals
• Work physicals
• Immunizations

• WIC
• TB screenings
• BP screenings
• Illness
• Health education

• Tuesday and Thursday 930 - 1200
• No appointments
• Most services are free

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WOW? Visits by Type 1997-2001
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Why Do They Come?

• New in town (CT, USA) and need a physical to
  start school
• No insurance
• Insurance will not pay (deductible, one physical
  per year, immunizations not covered)
• Could not get an appointment
• No provider
• Convenience

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WOW? Visits 4 Years
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WOW? Van Patients Visits August 1997 July
2001
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Pediatric Visits by Age 1997-2001
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WOW? Pediatric Vaccines (total 4,490)
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WOW? Adult Vaccines (total753)
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TB Testing
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WOW? Is a Community Partnership

• City of Danbury
• Department of Health
• Department of Social Services
• Danbury Hospital
• Department of Pediatrics
• Development Fund
• Danbury Nurse Association
• CT Department of Public Health
• Immunization Action Program
• Vaccines for Children Program

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ConclusionHow the Community Benefits

• Service well accepted
• Children can start school within a week of
  arrival in area
• Healthier populationfully immunized children,
  early detection of medical problems
• All patients encouraged to find a permanent
  medical home
• Reduced ER visits
• Source of information of community services

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Whats Next

• Expand (more hours / days)
• Funding issues need to be addressed
• Staffing
• Vocal community support