CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 26, 2023 – This week in partnership with Truist, Novant Health launched its second Community Care Cruiser in the Charlotte area. Community leaders gathered at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools International Center on Sept. 25 to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The new cruiser will help improve access to vaccines, routine screenings and referrals to other social services.
“Novant Health is working to create a healthier future inside and outside the walls of our facilities,” said Saad Ehtisham, DHA, senior vice president, Novant Health and president, Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center and Novant Health’s greater Charlotte market. “This new mobile health unit expands the reach of our existing Community Care Cruiser, which served thousands of patients in the Charlotte area last year. We are excited to continue our work, in coordination with our community partners, to remove barriers to care and close health disparity gaps so our communities can thrive.”
The nearly $500,000 Community Care Cruiser was funded by Truist and other philanthropic partners through the Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Foundation. It will be regularly deployed to provide a wide variety of free health services including routine screening and vaccines, nutrition education and counseling, physical assessments and connections to social resources as well as primary and specialty care. Translation services will also be available on the cruiser to ensure that language is not a barrier to care.
“We are grateful to our philanthropic partner, Truist, for their investment in our newest Community Care Cruiser,” said Ann Caulkins, senior vice president, Novant Health and president, Novant Health Foundation. “These mobile health services extend remarkable care into our community, allowing our teams to literally pick up and go to where our patients are with the services they need, including much-needed screenings, immunizations and connections to social services.”
“Providing access to preventative health care, medical care and screening supports our communities and can save lives,” said Rai Glover, Charlotte market president for Truist. “This new community care cruiser is an important addition that will help Novant Health fulfill its mission by reaching communities across Charlotte when and where there’s a need. Our support is another way Truist inspires and builds better lives and communities.”
In 2022, Novant Health’s existing Community Care Cruiser:
- Provided free biometric screenings for 1,712 patients across North Carolina.
- Immunized 1,737 children – 80% of whom are Spanish-speaking – in Charlotte.
- Helped 681 families access food, housing and resources to address social needs.
The new cruiser will be regularly deployed to reach underserved patients in and around Mecklenburg County. Community members may request a visit from the community cruiser by visiting NovantHealth.org/Cruiser. For more information about the cruiser, email Zeleka Benton, manager of community health services, at ZGBenton@NovantHealth.org.
Novant Health is committed to closing health equity gaps and addressing social determinants of health. This work includes placing clinics and mobile health units in underserved areas of the community to provide timely and accessible health information, care and treatment. To assist the community with upward mobility and professional growth, Novant Health has implemented hundreds of outreach programs and services, including a MyCommunity tool online to help people search for free or reduced cost services like medical care, food and job training.
To see pictures from the ribbon cutting ceremony, click here.
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