In rural and small-town communities across Ontario, accessing health care can mean long drives, limited appointment availability, and difficult decisions about when — or whether — to seek help. For residents of Chatham-Kent, the MobileCare program is changing that reality by bringing health services directly into the heart of their communities.
Care without barriers
Launched in 2023, MobileCare is a “clinic on wheels” designed to reduce barriers to care and make support easier to access. Managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Lambton Kent, the program delivers free, walk-in services in partnership with the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, local health centres, the Ontario Health Team, and Medavie Health Services’ Chatham-Kent EMS team. No health card, appointment, or cost involved.
Traditional care settings can feel out of reach for many people — those without a family doctor, seniors who no longer drive, newcomers navigating an unfamiliar health system, or those experiencing mental health challenges, just to name a few. MobileCare was created with those realities in mind, offering care in a community-based setting where people feel safe, respected, and supported.
Staffed by a nurse practitioner, a community paramedic, and a mental health first responder, MobileCare provides a range of services including primary care, prescriptions and referrals, chronic disease management, counselling, substance use support, and community health support. Beyond the expertise of this multi-disciplinary team, the model takes a holistic view of wellbeing, recognizing that health is shaped by factors like housing stability, transportation, and social connection.
“Community-centred care is one of the most promising ways to improve health outcomes across the country,” explains Peter Morassutti, General Manager of Chatham-Kent EMS. “By thinking creatively about how care is delivered, we can also ensure that solutions are designed around the lives and communities of the people we serve. That makes them not only more accessible, but more effective in supporting long-term wellbeing.”
Since its launch, MobileCare has served more than 1,100 people and expanded to over a dozen communities across Chatham-Kent, including Walpole Island First Nation and Delaware Nation. By working in partnership with these communities, the program has also helped reduce pressure on local emergency departments by offering proactive, preventative care outside of hospital settings.
Building better care, together
MobileCare is part of a broader Community Paramedicine approach led by Chatham-Kent EMS, with goals that include improving access to care, enhancing patient outcomes, strengthening clinician experience, and reducing unnecessary hospital admissions. By meeting people earlier and closer to home, the program helps address health needs before they escalate into emergencies.
The success of MobileCare reflects a growing shift in how care is delivered across Canada. As the country’s largest EMS management provider, Medavie is supporting Mobile Integrated Health and Community Paramedicine initiatives nationwide — from First Nations communities to rural and remote regions — focused on culturally competent, trauma-informed, community-based care.
Looking ahead, MobileCare’s partners are exploring new community stops, advanced diagnostics, virtual care, and deeper collaboration with Indigenous, newcomer, and cultural organizations.
“MobileCare is really a symbol of what’s possible when private and public partners, health professionals, and communities work together to reimagine what care can look like,” Morassutti adds.
Solutions like MobileCare show that health services can be both innovative and deeply grounded in community. For those in Chatham-Kent, the result is better access to care and a stronger foundation for health for generations to come.