Arkansas Center For Women and Infants' Health - Mobile Units
- Program Representative(s) Interviewed: Kelly Conroy, RN, MPH, Senior Director for Mobile Health and Maternal Health Programs; Denton Thompson, MBA, RN, Program Manager
- Location: Arkansas
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Program Overview: The Arkansas Center for Women and
Infants' Health delivers services to rural communities in Arkansas, traveling across the state’s 75
counties. The program is designed to address the state’s most pressing health needs and reduce gaps in care
resulting from rural hospital closures. Informed by maternal health needs assessments and community
listening sessions, the mobile health units provide prenatal care, reproductive health services, health
screenings, vaccinations, and education to rural residents. The mobile units, which are staffed primarily by
advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and community health workers, make routine and ad hoc visits
across the state, addressing both immediate and long-term patient needs.
The program aims to promote well-being and resilience for rural Arkansans by providing health navigation, language interpretation, and connection to community resources. The program partners with trusted community organizations and hires local staff, establishing itself as a reliable care network across the state. The program’s collaborations with the state government, local health departments, and other organizations ensure services are affordable and sustainable. To further reduce barriers to care, mobile health staff also offer patients assistance in enrolling in health insurance.