Where You Are: Mobile Care in Action
NRHD Mobile Clinic
Mobile outreach is a gold standard in community health. It’s built on a simple but powerful idea: meet people where they are.
In rural areas like ours, many people face serious barriers to getting the care they need. One of the biggest? Transportation. If you don’t have a car, or if getting to the nearest clinic takes hours, staying on top of your health can feel nearly impossible. That’s where Mobile Health Units (MHUs) come in.
MHUs bring services directly to the people. These units can provide everything from basic medical care and health screenings to specific treatments and exams, vaccines and testing. By delivering care in a person's own neighborhood, they not only catch health issues early—they ground care in the context of the place where people live. Also, a consistent, friendly presence goes a long way to building trust, especially when people see that services are offered without judgment and at little to no cost.
Many patients feel more connected to MHUs because they recognize the effort it takes to show up—especially in underserved or overlooked communities. Mobile services are often free or offered on a sliding scale, making them accessible to everyone, regardless of income or insurance status. MHUs can also provide specific and targeted care and services based on needs of a neighborhood or community. In this way, critical health needs and treatment can be addressed at the most local level. It is with that mindset the NRHD developed and implemented the mobile harm reduction program.
The harm reduction program builds on another major strength of MHUs, bringing different community organizations together. When multiple agencies partner on one mobile unit, they can offer a wide variety of services all in one stop. This helps reduce what’s often called “resource fatigue”—that feeling of being overwhelmed or burned out by trying to track down help from different places. Instead of having to go to five different offices, people can get connected with everything from medical care to social support, right where they live.
The New River Health District’s Mobile Harm Reduction Program
The New River Health District launched Rise Above, a mobile harm reduction program in January 2023. Their services include:
Overdose prevention and naloxone training
Peer support and resource navigation
Referrals to treatment and community services
Safe use supplies
Wound care and hygiene kits
Safe sex kits
Food and water
In May 2025, the team added a mobile unit to expand their reach. This new vehicle includes a clinic room where they can provide services like STI testing and vaccines, with plans to bring on more partner organizations to meet even more community needs.
All services provided through the mobile outreach program are completely free.
Want to see when they’ll be in your area? Check out their facebook to stay up to date on their outreach schedule and events.