Mobile Outreach Unit FAQs
What is the Mobile Outreach Unit?
The Mobile Outreach Unit (MOU) is a program funded by the Johnston Health Foundation and the Duke Endowment to provide mobile health care services at no cost to residents of Johnston County and surrounding areas, who do not have health insurance. The MOU travels across the region to provide in-person and virtual health care services, such as free vaccine and urgent care clinics, as well as heart health, diabetes and cancer screenings. The MOU bus is equipped with two exam rooms, a wheelchair lift, lab and waiting room, designed to resemble the look and feel of a typical doctor’s office.
For a virtual tour of the MOU bus, watch a full video here.
What services does the Mobile Outreach Unit offer?
The MOU travels across the Johnston County region, providing free in-person and virtual health care services such as vaccines; urgent care; and screenings for heart health, diabetes and cancer. Designed to resemble a typical doctor’s office, the MOU bus features two exam rooms, a wheelchair lift, lab and waiting room.
The MOU also serves as an access point for Community Access for Teen and Child Behavioral Health in Johnston County (CATCH -Johnston) services. CATCH-Johnston uses virtual technology, managed by a team of child and adolescent psychiatrists, to provide direct care to children and families, consult with educators, and integrate with local primary care providers. To learn more about project CATCH-Johnston, click here.
How much do services at the Mobile Outreach Unit cost?
All services provided by the MOU are at no cost to the patient, made possible by the funds and donations made to the MOU. This includes any labs ordered by the provider during the visit, so long as the labs are completed at UNC Health Johnston.
How do I qualify for Mobile Outreach Unit services?
With the exception of urgent care clinics, all MOU screening events and activities are open to everyone.
Patients visiting urgent care clinics must be between six months and 65 years of age.
Do I need health insurance to visit the Mobile Outreach Unit?
No. With the support of the Johnston Health Foundation and the Duke Endowment, the MOU serves residents of Johnston County and surrounding areas who do not have health insurance at no cost. Through this service, we hope to improve access to care by overcoming financial and transportation barriers in the community and decrease avoidable emergency department visits.
Do I need a valid driver’s license, ID, Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number to use the MOU?
No documentation is required to be seen by MOU staff.
Do I need an appointment to be seen by a healthcare professional at the MOU?
No, the MOU is walk-in only.
Do you offer financial assistance for prescription medications?
Yes, financial assistance is available on a case-by-case basis for patients who cannot afford their prescriptions. We also work earnestly to find the most affordable medication and pharmacies through the GoodRx discount program.
Do you have accommodations for patients who don’t speak English?
Yes, we have clinical staff who speak Spanish and multiple interpreter tools on the MOU to help ensure patients who do not speak English receive the same high-quality level of care.
Is the Mobile Outreach Unit a primary care or medical home?
No, we are not a primary care clinic. We operate more like an urgent care clinic. We serve as a bridge between patients' immediate needs and long-term solutions. Each of our Johnston and Harnett County patients gets a referral to Project Access for eligibility assessment and placement with a primary care physician, if eligible.
What is the difference between visiting the Mobile Outreach Unit and other healthcare services (e.g., the ER or urgent care)?
The MOU can help treat or identify mild, non-emergent illnesses, such as fever, cold/flu, high blood pressure and more. We aim to identify and treat illness early to avoid trips to the emergency room or urgent care. The MOU can also connect patients to Project Access for the treatment of chronic illnesses. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1 or visit your nearest emergency room.
The MOU can help treat the following:
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Cold/ Flu
- Cough
- COVID-19
- Diarrhea
- Diabetes
- Ear problems
- Female urinary problems
- Fever
- Insect bites
- Mild headaches/ Migraine
- Mild stomach ache
- High blood pressure
- Pink eye
- Rash
- Sinusitis
- Sore throat
Where can I find the Mobile Outreach Unit calendar of events?
How can I support the Mobile Outreach Unit?
We’re glad you asked! The Johnston Health Foundation’s Community Outreach Fund helps provide Johnston County families access to quality health care close to home through comprehensive health education and preventive health initiatives, especially for low-income, elderly and disabled populations. The MOU is part of this effort. Donations to this fund go directly to patients, programs and services at UNC Health Johnston, and you can specify if you want your financial contribution to go toward the MOU.
Online donations can be made here. Checks made out to The Johnston Health Foundation with “Community Outreach Fund” in the memo line can be mailed to: PO Box 1376, Smithfield, NC 27577, Attn: Community Outreach Fund.
Who should I contact if I’d like to partner with the Mobile Outreach Unit?
We would love to partner with you! We have partnered with organizations like the Bright Leaf Flea Market; State Employees’ Credit Union; and La Semilla, a Spanish faith-based organization, to offer services like flu vaccines, blood pressure screenings and urgent care clinics.
The MOU bus also supports WellnessWorks, a complementary corporate employee health program designed to help provide the healthcare needs of employers, their employees and employees’ families. The bus visits businesses to provide health screenings and other needs, such as biometric screening, blood pressure screenings, and COVID and flu vaccines. By collaborating with corporate partners, WellnessWorks serves the greater Johnston County community. If you would like to learn more about WellnessWorks or partner on an event for your organization, please contact Jamie Pearce, our corporate health consultant, at jaime.pearce@unchealth.unc.edu.
If you’re interested in the MOU attending an event, please reach out to Leah Johnson, our corporate and community outreach coordinator, at leah.johnson@unchealth.unc.edu.
How can I contact the Mobile Outreach Unit?
