Health equity can only be achieved when every person can reach their fullest health potential. People who are food insecure are at a higher risk of diet-related health conditions like obesity, nutritional deficiencies, and diabetes. Virtua is the largest academic health system in southern New Jersey and a pioneer in mobile healthcare. Our robust fleet includes Eat Well – a mobilefarmers market and mobile grocery store, Pediatric Mobile Services and a Mobile Health and Cancer Screening Unit – all recognized by the US Dept. of HHS as Healthy People 2030 Champions. In 2022, Virtua was awarded a grant from the NJ Dept of Health tocreate the Mobile Health Acceleration Project (VMHAP) to connect individuals in areas of low access to healthy food to clinical health linkages. Utilizing upstream thinking, we began working with community members of all ages using the concept that “Food is Medicine” – good nutrition has a positive effect on every chronicdisease. VMHAP’s goal is to decrease obesity and associated health conditions by increasing access to preventative care and healthy food utilizing a multi-pronged approach: 1) more time in the community; 2) clinical mobile health units riding in tandem with an Eat Well mobile market; and 3) cross training community health workers (CHWs) to provide SDoH resources. In just one year, we increased our delivery of nutritious food by more than 32% and 1755 individuals were referred to SDoH resources. Inadvertently, we began a cultural shift of sharing cross-trained staff which is increasing our program efficiency. Data was measured using qualitative and quantitative metrics, and we can now provide clinical measurements to the Eat Well markets. The success of the program was validated as the grant was extended through 2024. Virtua continues to work with key partners to implement improved methods of ensuring closed loop referrals for medical services and SDOH resources and increase the volume of in tandem events. Learning Objectives: · Assess how innovative mobile programming is utilized to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities. · Recognize how collaboration within a health system and with community members with lived experiences decreases silos, improves trust of healthcare providers, and enhances health outcomes. Understand how utilizing qualitative and quantitative data enhances funding opportunities.

Maria Emerson, MA, CCC-SLP, Director Rehab, Pediatric and Community Based Services, Virtua Health; Melanie Ernest, MPA, Director of Community Based Programs, Community Health Engagement, Virtua Health