Join the Mobile Health Fair in Mattapan on Thursday

Area mobile health clinics will provide free screenings, immunizations, and more.

Hospitals and other medical care providers are always looking for new ways to bring healthcare to people who need it. Taking a page from the popularity of food trucks and even Boston’s City Hall, area healthcare providers are using mobile health clinics to reach people in a new way.

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), is hosting a three city tour to showcase mobile healthcare. “Our aim with this three-city tour is to highlight the innovative approaches mobile clinics use, and to make this information more widely-known in the health care community overall,” said Maureen Bisognano, President and CEO of IHI in a statement. “The clinics provide great value and have first-hand knowledge of the impact of socio-economic issues on health. Mobile health clinics also have a great track record engaging with patients from diverse backgrounds who haven’t always connected with brick and mortar services.”

Thursday’s event will feature five different mobile healthcare providers from the Boston area, including: The Family Van (a program of Harvard Medical School that provides free preventive health services and health education); Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Mobile Health Initiative (two state-of-the-art vans that provide access to education and screenings to low-income populations); New England Eye On-Sight (the clinical subsidiary of the New England College of Optometry that provides comprehensive eye exams, eyeglasses, low vision rehabilitation, and education to children and adults who do not have access to eye care); Health in Motion Van (provides health promotion, health education, basic screenings, and immunization services); and Health Innovations (offers prevention education and information on HIV, STIs, and viral hepatitis).

If you do not have access to healthcare or know someone who needs screenings, this event is the perfect opportunity to get a checkup.

The event is at Morning Star Baptist Church (1257 Blue Hill Ave., Mattapan), beginning at 10 a.m. and the clinics will be around through lunch.