UNC Greensboro announced on April 30 the launch of Minerva’s Health Chariot, a new mobile health unit operated by the School of Nursing that will provide primary and preventive care across several counties including Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, Rockingham, Randolph, Davidson, Davie, and Caswell.
The introduction of this unit aims to address gaps in healthcare access for underserved communities throughout the Triad. The project was made possible through a $715,000 investment from UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina.
University leaders including Dr. Debra Barksdale, dean of the School of Nursing; Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam Jr.; and Anita Bachmann, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina were present at an unveiling event outside UNCG’s Nursing and Instructional Building on April 29. The new vehicle joins Minerva’s Mobile Health Unit (MHU), which began service in 2023 using a repurposed RV to deliver screenings and vaccinations directly to local neighborhoods where medical resources are limited.
Since its launch last year, the MHU has provided care to more than 3,000 people who might not have otherwise received medical attention. The addition of Minerva’s Health Chariot is expected to further increase access by bringing integrated telehealth technology into communities via a smaller transit van that can reach more locations.
Tiffany Gibson said: “What sets Minerva’s Health Chariot apart is its ability to turn a routine screening or test result into a same-day primary care telehealth visit. This is an essential service for rural and underserved communities where access to medical care may be limited.”
The initiative also offers hands-on experience for nursing students through programs like Minerva Mobile Health Scholars. Barksdale said: “Remarkable change doesn’t happen without the right tools, the right people, and partners who believe in the work. Minerva’s Health Chariot brings all of that together — giving our nurse practitioners and students the platform they need to meet our neighbors where they are and deliver care that truly transforms lives.”
Bachmann said: “At UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina, we believe that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare no matter where they live… By bringing telehealth-enabled preventive care directly into neighborhoods across the Triad this mobile unit breaks down barriers that have kept too many people from getting the care they need.”
Chancellor Gilliam also announced UNCG’s approval for participation in funding aimed at increasing rural healthcare workforce development through support from UNC System grants.
