Health Equity can only be achieved when every person can reach their fullest health potential; but it is often dependent on a person’s social position or other socially determined circumstances. Engaging the community and those with lived experiences drive services and program sustainability. The concept of Virtua Pediatric Mobile Services (VPMS) stems from experiences and lessons learned over many years of working with young children, and their families, in their “natural environment”.

VPMS was launched in 2017 to address compounded research that informs us the first five years of life are critical in brain development and is the period that could change the trajectory of the child’s future. It is crucial that experiences during this time are positive.

Building on relationships with individuals with lived experiences allowed VPMS to develop multiple service lines that meet at-risk community needs and concerns and show excellent outcomes. VPMS, a 24 ft. van outfitted for pediatric primary care, travels into low access communities connecting health services and education to an average of 450 children, ages 0-6, per month. The staffing model and program schedule allow for flexibility to meet the people where they are. Continuous training and mentoring of health professionals and other team members is paramount to success.

In just a few short years, VPMS has become a trusted, and beloved, resource in the communities it serves – it has received multiple prestigious awards and designations, such as Healthy People 2030 by the Department of Health and Human Services and has garnished well over $2 million in philanthropic support.

Speaker: Maria Emerson, MA, CCC-SLP, Director Rehab, Pediatric and; Community Based Services, Virtual Health

Conference 2023