Salve Regina University announced Wednesday that BankNewport, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan have joined as sponsors of its health and wellness community outreach program, providing financial backing for a mobile health unit that brings care and education to underserved communities across Rhode Island.
Harvard Pilgrim and Tufts Health Plan are both Point32Health companies. Their sponsorships, along with BankNewport’s, will help underwrite operational costs for the 40-foot mobile unit, which is staffed by students and faculty from Salve’s nursing, social work and health science programs.
Representatives from the three organizations gathered on the Salve campus Tuesday to mark the partnership alongside university leaders, faculty and students.
The outreach program was recently honored with a Health Care Heroes Award for Advancement in Health Care Prevention from Providence Business News. It was launched with the help of a federal earmark from the Health Resources and Services Administration, secured with the support of U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, which allowed Salve to purchase and equip the mobile unit and cover initial operating expenses.
“Access to quality healthcare has become more challenging,” said Jack Murphy, president and CEO of BankNewport. “Salve’s mobile health unit brings health education and preventative care directly to individuals and families who might otherwise go without. It’s a thoughtful, practical way to reach people where they are, and it reflects the mercy mission of Salve and the community focus of BankNewport.”
Jake Biscoglio, president of commercial and specialty at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, said the mobile unit is “not only providing much needed access to preventive screenings but also helping to train the next generation of health care workers in the state.”
Since its launch, the mobile unit has supported 10 events on the Salve campus and in the greater Newport area, working with partners including Conexión Latina, the Newport Salvation Army, St. Joseph’s food pantry, the Jamestown Housing Authority, Thompson Middle School and the IMALIVE Mental Health Fair. Programming has covered women’s health, dental care, mental health, blood pressure screenings and domestic violence resources.
At each stop, students and faculty typically see between 20 and 50 people, handing out education materials along with socks, hand warmers, blankets, toothbrushes, toothpaste and items aimed at easing stress and anxiety. Ten additional visits are planned this spring, with the program expanding into other parts of the state.
Salve President Kelli J. Armstrong said the effort reflects the university’s founding mission.
“We follow in the footsteps of our founders, the Sisters of Mercy, and their mission to serve the needs of their local community,” Armstrong said. “We are inspired by and grateful to BankNewport and to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan for their support of Salve in this work.”
The program is directed by Debra Cherubini, associate professor of nursing and director of Salve’s RN-BSN program. More information is available by contacting her at debra.cherubini@salve.edu.
