Southcoast Health Wellness Van sets out to help Hurricane Maria victims

Jan. 23--NEW BEDFORD -- Marializ Rodriguez, 31, visited the Southcoast Health Wellness Van parked Monday afternoon on South Second Street to sign up for health insurance. She came to New Bedford about two weeks ago after visiting her mother in New York and fleeing Puerto Rico.

"I just want to start a new life over here," Rodriguez said. "I love Puerto Rico, but you gotta do what you gotta do."

Southcoast Health has had a van program for 25 years, which on average treats 4,000 patients per year, but just recently began coordinating with United Way of Greater New Bedford to see families who fled from Puerto Rico.

As of Friday, the United Way had conducted intakes with 195 families -- 285 adults and 235 children, according to Darlene Spencer, director of Family Support Initiatives at United Way.

Rodriguez said she helped as a first responder as part of the National Guard and is staying with a friend's family in New Bedford. At her home in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, pipes broke resulting in no running water and rodents made their way in, destroying clothes and furniture.

Linking families to the Wellness Van is among the work United Way has been doing to connect families to basic needs such as food, clothing, housing and other resources such as the Career Center and elderly services, Spencer said.

She noted the influx of families has put a strain on services and as part of a larger statewide deployment, three Disaster Case Managers came on board last week.

If allowed, the van plans to visit the hotels where affected families have been staying, said Susan Oliveira, van manager.

"This whole program is part of what Southcoast Health gives back to the community," she said. The van is a Department of Public Health licensed clinic of Southcoast Health.

There is only one van, but it makes rounds to the Greater New Bedford, Greater Fall River and Wareham. It has a small waiting area with a bench on either side and three rooms for patients to be seen. The van is also wheelchair accessible with a ramp.

Typically two nurses are on board offering free services, such as screening for cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure, physician referrals, confidential pregnancy tests, family planning referrals, smoking cessation and adult vaccines for flu, pneumonia and tetanus. Health information and education is also available.

The locations vary, but there are monthly visits to Sister Rose's House and the Boys and Girls Club.

On Monday, a woman from financial services helped sign people up for MassHealth and David Soto, certified medical interpreter who speaks English and Spanish, helped people communicate their needs.

In Soto's experience, "it's been a challenge" because people need a lot of help, he said. He noted it's brought to light that those in Puerto Rico are United States citizens.

"This is a great start," he said, nodding to organizations and the community that has stepped up to help in different ways.

Families have also been referred to Southcoast Health pediatricians at 49 State Road in Dartmouth.

The Wellness Van will be at the YMCA New Bedford, 25 South Water St. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 29.

Follow Aimee Chiavaroli on Twitter @AimeeC_SCT

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