Yale Medicine (YM) and Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS) have launched the first mobile retail pharmacy and clinic in the nation to bring health care to people where they live.
The project, known as InMOTION, serves communities throughout Connecticut, which is the first state in the country to legalize mobile retail pharmacy services. InMOTION’s goal is to make better health accessible to anyone disconnected from the health care system for any reason. Project organizers and officials provided information about InMOTION at a news conference on July 10.
InMOTION’s mobile services include:
- Filling medication prescriptions and administering vaccinations
- Clinical care via telehealth and through in-person visits
- Phlebotomy (blood draw) services
- Primary care health services and care for chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure
- Specialty services for wound care and infectious diseases (e.g., HIV and Hepatitis C testing)
- Addiction services, including treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorder and naloxone distribution
- Mental health care
- Social service assistance for housing applications, financial navigation
InMOTION is expected to help reduce disparity gaps across the patient population. “Health inequities are a longtime barrier to access that Yale Medicine and Yale New Haven Health are deeply committed to helping remove throughout the communities we serve with innovative initiatives like this,” says Margaret McGovern, MD, PhD, CEO of YM and executive vice president and chief physician executive of YNHHS.
“This is the first time in my whole academic and clinical career that I feel like I’m actually doing something that might change how we deliver health care to people,” says Sandra Springer, MD, professor of medicine (infectious diseases), who received federal grant funding to implement the project. “What’s the point of the clinical and research work we do if we’re not really reaching people and improving their care?”
“We are very excited to be part of this innovative project to provide access to underserved communities,” says Vinay Sawant, RPh, MPH, MBA, executive director, Pharmacy Services, YNHHS. “The mobile pharmacy services strive to increase access through financial navigation, grant and manufacturer support, and a new partnership with Dispensary of Hope to provide select medications to eligible patients. Our clinical pharmacist provides comprehensive services from prescription filling and counseling to providing immunizations and medication management services.”
Click here to see the mobile pharmacy van schedule and services, as well as an appointment request form.