Meeting people where they are
Recognizing the difficulty of accessing mental health treatment when demand is high, CVS Health’s Project Health initiative deploys mobile vans into local communities nationwide to locations such as churches, community centers and homeless shelters to conduct physical and mental health screenings for early identification of health conditions.
“Anyone who screens positive for any physical or mental health conditions has an on-site consult with a nurse practitioner and is provided a directory of local health care providers,” explains Sheryl Burke, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility and chief sustainability officer.
“A lot of our participants tell us that the Project Health screening is the only time they see a doctor in a given year,” adds Sheryl. “So, we feel it’s really important to be in the right places in communities around the country.”
To that end, CVS Health has added nearly 100 community organizations over the past year to host its Project Health mobile units and plans to host nearly 2,000 Project Health screening events in 2023. This year, free depression screening were also added.
At Crossroads Rhode Island, the state’s leading provider of housing and homeless services, transportation is a significant obstacle for accessing physical and mental health care, says Jennifer Watkins, vice president of emergency shelters, housing problem solving at Crossroads Rhode Island.
“Having the van come to our locations — it’s a huge barrier that just evaporates,” Jennifer says.
That’s why it’s important to collaborate with people who know the community best, offers Sheryl.
“We know that trust with health care providers is a historic issue. We want to bring health services to people that need it most.”