A new mobile unit for Kinston Community Health Center

On Wednesday morning July 14, 2021, Kinston Community Health Center unveiled a brand new mobile care unit.

The vehicle is a 38 foot 2020 Forest River Georgetown motorcoach designed by Mission Mobile of Greensboro, NC. The mobile unit was outfitted to meet various medical needs.

Brad Watson, Vice President and Chief Experience Officer at Mission Mobile said, “Creating access to patient care and being able to meet patients where they are is really important to us and this helps.” 

“It’s exciting. I'm seeing it for the first time. We got some grant funding, this is something we've always wanted to do, as far as a way to go out in the community to provide services,” said Suzanne Freeman, Chief Operations Officer.

This specific funding came as a result of COVID-19. Freeman said that Covid testing and vaccination was the initial purpose of the mobile unit. 

Carrie Brinson, a RN at KCHC. Photo: Kristy Bock/Neuse News

“We had such a need and demand for testing. That was the goal for this, to be able to go out and use this for testing, especially in the migrant camps. We would have this when the vaccines started but it took longer, a lot longer.”

The plan is to still use it for covid testing and vaccination, but long term it will serve more rural or hard to reach areas. 

“There are a lot of barriers out in the community for patients to be able to be seen for various reasons. Having the opportunity for these patients to have screenings, and various services brought to them. This is huge, huge for us,” said Carrie Brinson, a RN at KCHC.

KCHC is hopeful knowing this mobile unit will fulfill currently unmet medical needs in the community.