Mobile Health Clinic
Regular visits to the doctor are a key component of disease prevention, but in communities with limited access to healthcare, unreliable transportation and a lack of health insurance prevent many people from seeing a doctor at all. BBF’s Mobile Health Clinic Program eliminates the obstacles between the patient and the exam chair by bringing the exam chair directly to the patient.
BBF’s Mobile Health Clinic Program launched in 2022 with the donation of a van for specialized eye care in Pittsburgh. It has since grown to five donated mobile health vans operated by partners, offering vision care, primary care, and specialized hearing care. Three serve the Pittsburgh area, and one in Florida and one in Kentucky, bringing care to patients and reducing transportation and insurance barriers.
How the Program Works
- Assess needs: BBF analyzes data and identifies underserved areas.
- Find partners: We connect with qualified healthcare organizations.
- Equip vans: Providers share needed medical equipment; BBF funds and installs it.
- Deliver care: We donate fully equipped vans so clinics can offer free or affordable care in underserved communities.
A New Way to Healthcare
Eye and Ear Foundation
Pittsburgh, PA
In fall 2025, BBF donated a mobile health clinic van to the Eye and Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh. Operated by UPMC audiologists and University of Pittsburgh faculty, the van provides free hearing screenings, hearing aid services, and care for speech and swallowing disorders in underserved communities across the Pittsburgh region.
Allegheny Health
Network
Pittsburgh, PA
In 2024, BBF donated a mobile health clinic van to Allegheny Health Network (AHN). The van serves both pediatric and adult populations, and is used to provide medical exams, chronic disease management, behavioral and women’s health services, screenings, and pediatric sports physicals at schools, housing complexes, and community sites.
“The donation of the vehicle by BBF has made an immeasurable impact on our communities and will continue to do so for years to come. We are proud to be in a position to provide care to vulnerable communities in the face of uncertainty.”
Kristen Macey, Allegheny Health Network
Eye and Ear Foundation
Pittsburgh, PA
BBF’s first mobile health van was donated to the Eye and Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh, where it is operated by UPMC’s Department of Ophthalmology Community Outreach & Remote Access Initiative. Volunteer eye doctors and medical students use the van to bring specialized eye care to underserved communities across the Greater Pittsburgh region.
“When you’re trying to overcome food and housing insecurity, get back on your feet, and find work – you need to be able to see.” – Dr. Evan Waxman, UPMC Vision Institute
KentuckyCare
Western Kentucky
BBF donated a mobile health van to KentuckyCare in 2023 to expand primary care access in rural western Kentucky communities lacking healthcare facilities.
The van hosts clinics in community spaces and adapts to local needs, from disaster response to events like October’s mammogram outreach for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Caridad Center
Palm Beach County, FL
Palm Beach County is home to significant healthcare inequities despite its wealthy image. Caridad Center, Florida’s largest free health clinic, has 700+ volunteer providers offering free care to uninsured residents below 200% of the federal poverty line.
“We serve all sectors of our community in every corner of the county. For many, transportation is the number one barrier to care.” – Laura Callus, CEO, Caridad Center
Mountain Area Health Education Center
Western North Carolina
In the fall of 2025, BBF provided a grant to support the development of a Mobile Pharmacy in partnership with the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC). The mobile clinic was completed in May 2026 and will expand access to essential medications across rural Western North Carolina by delivering prescriptions directly to patients, offering pharmacist consultations, and supporting ongoing care for individuals managing chronic conditions, behavioral health needs, and maternal health. Beyond daily care, the Mobile Pharmacy will serve as a critical lifeline during natural disasters, ensuring continuity of care when pharmacies are closed or inaccessible.
Ponce Medical School Foundation
Puerto Rico
BBF provides grant support for the Ponce Medical School Foundation’s Clinica del Sur Free Mobile Clinic in Puerto Rico, helping expand access to essential healthcare for underserved rural communities. The clinic is staffed by medical students, faculty, physicians, and nurses from Ponce Health Sciences University and provides free checkups, lab testing, psychological evaluations, and ongoing care for patients facing financial and geographic barriers to treatment.