A recent community needs assessment administered by VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) to the six counties surrounding South Hill, Virginia, shows that 45% of those surveyed have trouble accessing primary care, and 41% have difficulty accessing home health services. It’s a statistic that further proves that access to quality health care remains a challenge for many rural communities, and Southside Virginia is no exception. 

Thankfully, CMH is part of a larger academic health network that brings with it innovative resources to help bridge the gap. Two nurse practitioners who also teach at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing are now traveling to CMH’s Thomas W. Leggett Center once a week to provide essential health care directly to residents who need it most. It’s part of the Mobile Health and Wellness Program – a growing network of mobile health locations working together under the umbrella of VCU School of Nursing. 
 
"Many of the individuals we look forward to working with in South Hill might not otherwise have access to routine checkups or preventive care. With this program, we’re not just treating patients — we’re building relationships and empowering communities to take charge of their health,” said Martha Purvis, D.N.P., project coordinator and academic liaison from the School of Nursing. 

"Expanding these key services to South Hill means increased access to essential health care for our community," said Sheldon Barr, president of VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital. "This initiative is an important step in ensuring that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to receive the quality care they come to expect from our health system." 

With this program, we’re not just treating patients — we’re building relationships and empowering communities to take charge of their health.

Martha Purvis, D.N.P.
Project Coordinator and Academic Liaison

Services offered include on-site screening for blood pressure and diabetes, medication and care management, mental health screenings, managing transitions of care after emergency room or hospital visits, nutrition coaching, and smoking cessation support. Community support services include food and nutrition programs, and free or reduced-cost eyeglasses.

“Our goal is to break down barriers to health care by bringing essential services directly to the communities that need them most. We are committed to improving access, promoting wellness, and fostering trust in the health care system,” said Jacqueline Daniel, D.N.P., RN, FNP, CNE, clinical assistant professor at the School of Nursing. 

This expansion is made possible through a $4 million federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, supporting the clinic’s mission to extend operations to rural communities across the VCU and VCU Health footprint. 

Since 2013, VCU School of Nursing’s Mobile Health and Wellness Program has provided services to individuals in the Richmond and Tappahannock regions. The South Hill clinic is open every Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Martha Purvis at 804-389-0521 or email mhwp@vcu.edu.