GREENSBORO, N.C. — Made possible by a $3.7 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, this mobile unit will serve six counties in the Triad – Alamance, Caswell, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, and Rockingham.
From rural to urban communities, the focus is to get healthcare to those who need it most for UNC Greensboro and Cone Health.
"When you look at the northwest part of Guilford County in comparison to the southeast, and eastern part of Guilford County, what we see is a life expectancy that can vary as much as 20 years and that is significant," UNCG Rural Health Expert, Audrey Snyder said.
Cone Health shared plans at a city council meeting to close the life expectancy gap among different zip codes in Guilford County. It's called the 'Five in Five' plan, with different areas having folks live 20 years more in some cases, they want to reduce that gap by 5 years in 5 years' time. (See photos related to a plan below)
"Part of our 'five in five' strategy is also recognizing that if we keep people well in their communities and at home, then they don't have to come to the hospital. Frankly, the hospital, primarily the emergency department, they're the most expensive places to receive care," COO of Cone Health, Mandy Eaton shared.
When it comes to meeting people where they're at, that is something that is being taken quite literally. This mobile unit will pop up in parking lots of churches, community centers, and more.
"We do have collaborations with, for example, Greensboro Housing Authority, where we could park in that area and there are people who can come and get their services with us because we're in a central location. They can walk; they wouldn't have to drive," Snyder said.
Starting off, services will be free. The goal is to create partnerships in the community that will allow these services to remain free.
