The Health Wagon’s mission is to provide compassionate, quality health care to the medically underserved people in the Mountains of Appalachia. Our values are inclusiveness, community outreach, collaboration, spirituality and empowerment.
Let us tell you The Health Wagon story. Our average patient is 46 years old. Eighty-six percent of our patients are uninsured. Seventy percent of them have an income of less than $20,000 annually, despite working multiple jobs. This means they make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private insurance. Our patients live in desperately poverty-stricken rural Appalachia, where they can’t afford to go to the doctor but can’t afford not to. The mobility of our health clinic means we are able to fill the gap, whether they are in line at the food bank or at their job, we bring healthcare to them.

Dr. Teresa Tyson, DNP and Dr. Paula Hill, DNP are guest speakers for the 2018 International Rural Nursing Conference in Nashville, TN July 23-26. The Health Wagon’s Board Member David Cattell-Gordon is also honored as a guest speaker. The Health Wagon is very proud and thankful for this opportunity to present and inform the public on the Health Wagon’s wonderful work.

Coeburn- 7/3
St. Paul- 7/5
Big Stone Gap- 7/3
Pound- 7/9
Oakwood- Every Tuesday
Lebanon- not going this month due to RAM
Binns Counts- not going this month due to RAM
Clinchco-not going this month due to RAM

Please call 276-328-8850 for information on the mobile unit schedule.

Mobile unit schedule is subject to change, please call 276-328-8850 for more information

Every 3 months and during the summer RAM event 3 doctors from Richmond travel to Wise to do medical volunteering. They are retired and want to continue to provide medical care to those in need. These doctors are doing what is known as “Tikun Olam” a Hebrew term that means "repair of the world”. This is a concept in the Jewish faith to behave and act constructively and beneficially. It is also the idea that Jews bear responsibility not only for their own moral, spiritual, and material welfare, but also for the welfare of society at large. These three doctors also are friends with a man in Richmond that is a philanthropist who supports the Health Wagon. He realizes that he cannot do what the doctors do, but he can do something to “repair the world" and aid in the efforts to improve healthcare in Southwest Virginia.” The Health Wagon and the doctors that visit believe that if we help to heal one person, it is like we have healed the whole world.

Patient Assistance Funds

The Health Wagon is seeking donations for our patient assistance fund. These funds are given directly to patients to assist with transportation to and from specialty doctor visits, medication assistance, food, and any other needs the patients may have. If you would like to donation to this fund please do so by clicking here https://thehealthwagon.networkforgood.com/projects/50238-health-wagon-donation-page. If you would like to mail a check, please send it to P.O. Box 7070 Wise, VA 24293. Our patients greatly appreciate the support from our donors. We are very blessed.

The Health Wagon is in need of funding for this year's July Remote Area Medical (RAM) event. This event will provide free vision, dental and medical care July 20-22, 2018.
In 2017, RAM expenses totaled nearly $100,000. All care is delivered at no cost to the patients.

We need your help to keep the pace with the demand this year. To make a donation, visit: https://thehealthwagon.networkforgood.com/projects/50238-health-wagon-donation-page.

If you, your church, a corporation or someone you know would like to make a contribution for the upcoming RAM event by check, please send all contributions to The Health Wagon, P.O. Box 7070, Wise, VA 24293. All contributions are tax deductible. Please earmark your check with RAM so it gets applied for the RAM project.
Without your support, we could not provide the care that is life-enhancing and often times lifesaving. Thank you for making a difference.

The Health Wagon now has a blog on our website. Thanks so much to Betty Boyd for donating her time writing our blogs! To view it please visit http://thehealthwagon.org/hwwp/category/blog/

The Health Wagon’s Executive Director, Dr. Teresa Tyson and Clinical Director, Dr. Paula Hill-Collins were guest speakers at the University of Kentucky’s 2018 College of Nursing Graduates Showcase on June 4, 2018. Part of the presentation included the support given by Astra Zeneca on cardiovascular initiates. Both are Family Nurse Practitioners that graduated with their master’s degree from the University of Kentucky. Thank you Astra Zeneca and the University of Kentucky for your continued support of the Health Wagon. #AstraZeneca #UK

Health Wagons nurse practitioners and directors, Dr. Teresa Tyson and Dr. Paula Hill-Collins were keynote speakers at the 2018 National Association of Advisors for the Health Professionals conference on June 27, 2018 in Washington D.C.

Facts from the Skin Cancer Foundation:

• Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US.
• More than 3.5 million skin cancers in over two million people are diagnosed annually.
• Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon.
• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.
• Over the past three decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined.
• 13 million white non-Hispanics living in the US at the beginning of 2007 had at least one nonmelanoma skin cancer,
• Between 40-50% of Americans who live to age 65 will have either basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma at least once
• Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer
• Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer
• As many as three thousand deaths from advanced basal cell carcinoma occur annually in the US.
• About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
Prevention:
• Seek the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.
• Do not burn.
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
• Cover up with clothing, including a hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
• Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
• Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
• Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
• See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.

For more information please visit http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information