For more than 40 years, FCM's Mobile Health Program (MHP) has provided health care services to underserved populations throughout Tucson and Southern Arizona.
Founded by health pioneers Augusto Ortiz, MD, and his wife, Martha Ortiz, the MHP is supported by the Ortiz Endowment and additional gifts from individual FCM donors. In 2020, donations helped the Mobile Health Program deliver primary, preventative and prenatal care services to hundreds of people in need.
Now, MHP has partnered with the UArizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) in an effort to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to hard-to-reach and underserved communities in Arizona as part of the Mobile Outreach Vaccination and Education for Underserved Populations (MOVE UP) program.
At this time, the MHP team has assisted the MOVE UP initiative to provide vaccinations to farm workers in Douglas, AZ and to about 200 truck drivers in Nogales, AZ. Plans are underway to provide vaccinations at the Tucson Indian Center, and other locations throughout Southern Arizona.
"It is much faster to get a vaccine on the U.S. side of the border," said one truck driver, who wished to remain anonymous. He was able to easily schedule his appointment, and received his vaccination the next day.
Ana Gonzales, MD, MPH, the medical director for the MHP has been heartened by the process.
"Over the last few months, the Mobile Health Program has been able to address a significant public health need and assist with the distribution of COVID -19 vaccines within our community," she said.
She continued: "Through our collaboration with MEZCOPH, we've provided interdisciplinary care for our rural communities. FCM is invested in community engagement and outreach, and we are dedicated to providing care to underserved populations. The Mobile Health Program has reached some of the most vulnerable populations in Southern Arizona, where many barriers and access to care, along with vaccine hesitancy, have been national issues. While working in Douglas and Nogales, Arizona, we successfully collaborated with local community partners in vaccine distribution, education, and promotion. Looking forward, we are excited to continue providing care for our community.
Ron Sorensen, MS, MA, the Mobile Health Program's program director, helped secure some of the funding for the vaccine clinics and helped plan the clinics. Alicia Dinsmore, MHP's program coordinator, coordinated the medical volunteers for the vaccine clinics and MEZCOPH recruited and coordinated the non-medical volunteers.
"The coronavirus pandemic brought to the forefront the level of inequities and disparities that exist within the U.S. health care system," Sorensen said. "Our mobile health program is focused on reducing these inequities by caring for those who are most vulnerable and economically disenfranchised in our community."
Sorenson also acknowledged the philanthropic support the mobile clinic has received over the years that enables the team to provide health care services free of charge.
"Through the ongoing support of generous donors—which includes individuals, foundations, businesses and local government—the MHP program can provide free quality primary and prenatal care to those most in need. This program serves as a vital point of access to medical care, including bringing the COVID-19 vaccine to underserved communities, for so many people living in Tucson and other parts of Southern Arizona. We are grateful!" Donate to the Mobile Health Program>>