System News

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Roper St. Francis Healthcare is enhancing patient access to affordable and convenient healthcare with the help of its new Mobile Health Unit, thanks to our generous donors.

The not-for-profit healthcare system held a private ribbon-cutting event Tuesday afternoon to launch the unit, which will provide a variety of services including blood pressure and cancer screenings at health fairs and community events across the tri-county area. The mobile unit hits the road this week, thanks to generous philanthropic support through the Roper St. Francis Foundation and a Boeing grant. 

“Our new Mobile Health Unit is a welcome and much-needed continuation of the great care we already provide through community health initiatives such as the Roper St. Francis Greer Transitions Clinic,” Roper St. Francis Healthcare Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Megan Baker said. “The unit is another tool in our efforts to serve the uninsured and underserved.” 

The initial phase of the mobile unit launch is centered around health screening and resource connection, allowing the health system to build upon those connections with existing services. Clinical team members and community health workers will staff the unit to provide various health screenings as well as cancer risk assessments and health education.

The 38-foot-long customized vehicle is equipped with two exam rooms and a wheelchair ramp for safe and inclusive access. 

The mobile unit was fully funded by philanthropic support through the Roper St. Francis Foundation. Funding from numerous generous donors has covered the cost of the physical unit, as well as some operational costs for up to five years.

“The Mobile Health Unit is a great example of an important initiative that simply would not be possible without philanthropy,” Roper St. Francis Foundation President Stacy L. Waters said. “We are immensely grateful for the generous support from all of the donors who made this possible, in particular Hank and Laurel Greer’s lead gift, and their deep alignment to our mission of healing all people with compassion, faith and excellence.”

Prior to purchasing the unit, a grant from Boeing to fund the Mobile Health Readiness Project helped to study coverage areas as well as the actual design of the unit.  

“Boeing’s grant allowed us to go into the community and pinpoint where we’re needed the most and what services are the most important,” Renee Linyard-Gary, Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity, said. “We know the health disparities in our area are deep and vast, and this major milestone in our journey to closing the gap in care will allow us to meet more of those needs.” 

Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s Mobile Health Unit will hit the road this Friday to provide blood pressure, diabetes and lung cancer risk assessment screenings at a free community health fair in Summerville at the Lowcountry Conference Center at 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.  

The unit’s upcoming calendar of events includes the following:

• Wednesday, March 20: The unit will provide blood pressure and diabetes screenings, HIV testing and colon cancer risk assessments at the ICNA Relief Shifa Clinic’s Community Health Fair & Food Giveaway at the St. Stephen Farmers Market, from 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Saturday, April 13: In partnership with St. James Health and Wellness, the unit will provide blood pressure and diabetes screenings, fit testing and colon cancer risk assessments at the Berkeley Electric Cooperative’s Community Health & Safety Fair from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Awendaw.
• Saturday, April 17: In partnership with Trident United Way, the unit will provide various screenings as well as health navigation from an AccessHealth community health worker at a FoodShare Berkeley County distribution in Moncks Corner.

To learn more about how to give to the Roper St. Francis Foundation and propel this effort and others like it, go here.