Pediatric Mobile Services Program

Care on Wheels

Virtua's Pediatric Mobile Services provides children from infancy to age six in underserved communities throughout South Jersey with health services they need.

The fully-equipped program on wheels offers a range of services, including dental and developmental screenings, blood lead level testing, lead poisoning education, flu shots, back-to-school physicals, vision and hearing screenings, health education, community resources, and referrals to specialized services.

Call 609-304-0151 to schedule an appointment.

Calendar

Check out our monthly calendar to see days/times when Virtua Pediatric Mobile Services will be coming to a neighborhood near you.

Please note changes to schedule and check back regularly for updates. To make an appointment call (609) 304-0151. Walk-ins welcome!

September

Wednesday, September 1
Developmental Screenings - Branch Village Apartments, 1700 South 9th St., Camden, 9 am - Noon.
https://bettertomorrows.org/

Thursday, September2
Dental Screenings - Branch Village Apartments, 1700 South 9th St., Camden, 9 am - Noon.
https://bettertomorrows.org/

Monday, September 6
Labor Day

Tuesday, September 7
Physicals - Cream School, 1875 Mulford St., Camden, 9 am - Noon.
http://camdencitycream.ss12.sharpschool.com/

Wednesday, September 8
Developmental Screenings - Over the Rainbow Child Care Center, 146 Route 130, Bordentown, 9 am - Noon.
https://overtherainbowcdc.com/

Thursday, September 9
Dental Screenings - Woodbury Child Development Center, 36 Carpenter St., Woodbury, 9 am - Noon
https://woodburycdc.com/

Friday, September 10
Physicals - Early Childhood Development Center, 1602 Pine St., Camden, 9 am - Noon.
http://camdencitycream.ss12.sharpschool.com/

Monday, September 13
TBD

Tuesday, September 14
Physicals - Veteran's Family School, 800 N. 26th St., Camden, 9 am - Noon.
http://camdencityveterans.ss12.sharpschool.com/

Wednesday, September 15
Developmental Screenings - Over the Rainbow Child Care Center, 146 Route 130, Bordentown, 9 am - Noon.
https://overtherainbowcdc.com/

Thursday, September 16
Dental Screenings - Pemberton Twp. Early Education Center, 100 Arney’s Mt. Rd., Pemberton, 9 am - Noon.
https://www.pemberton.k12.nj.us/Domain/10

Friday, September 17
Physicals - Beverly City School, 601 Bentley Ave., Beverly, 9 am - Noon.
https://www.beverlycityschool.org/

Monday, September 20
Hearing & Vision Screenings - Over the Rainbow Child Care Center, 146 Route 130, Bordentown, 9 am - Noon.
https://overtherainbowcdc.com/

Tuesday, September 21
Hearing & Vision Screenings - Over the Rainbow Child Care Center, 146 Route 130, Bordentown, 9 am - Noon.
https://overtherainbowcdc.com/

Wednesday, September 22
Developmental Screenings - C.A.R.E For Me Children’s Learning Center, 6002 Westfield Ave., Pennsauken, 9 am - Noon.
http://www.careformeclc.org/

Thursday, September 23
Dental Screenings - Pemberton Twp. Early Education Center, 100 Arney’s Mt. Rd., Pemberton, 9 am - Noon.
https://www.pemberton.k12.nj.us/Domain/10

Friday, September 24
Physicals - Beverly City School, 601 Bentley Ave., Beverly, 9 am - Noon.
https://www.beverlycityschool.org/

Monday, September 27
Hearing & Vision Screenings - Calvary Hill Preschool, 535 Mullica Hill Rd., Glassboro, 9 am - Noon.
https://calvaryhill.church/ministries/calvary-hill-preschool

Tuesday, September 28
Hearing & Vision Screenings - Calvary Hill Preschool, 535 Mullica Hill Rd., Glassboro, 9 am - Noon.
https://calvaryhill.church/ministries/calvary-hill-preschool

Wednesday, September 29
Developmental Screenings - C.A.R.E For Me Children’s Learning Center, 6002 Westfield Ave., Pennsauken, 9 am - Noon.
http://www.careformeclc.org/

Thursday, September 30
Dental Screenings - Pemberton Twp. Early Education Center, 100 Arney’s Mt. Rd., Pemberton, 9 am - Noon.
https://www.pemberton.k12.nj.us/Domain/10

October

Friday, October 1
Physicals - Mastery Charter School, 415 North 9th St., Camden, 9 am - Noon.
Masterycharter.org

Monday, October 4
Hearing & Vision Screenings - Endeavour School, 1 School Rd., JB-MDL, 9 am - Noon.
https://end.nhanover.com/

Tuesday, October 5
Blood Lead Screenings - Over the Rainbow Child Care Center, 146 Route 130, Bordentown, 9 am - Noon.
https://overtherainbowcdc.com/

Wednesday, October 6
Hearing & Vision Screenings - Endeavour School, 1 School Rd., JB-MDL, 9 am - Noon.
https://end.nhanover.com/

Thursday, October 7
Dental Screenings - Endeavour School, 1 School Rd., JB-MDL, 9 am - Noon.
https://end.nhanover.com/

Friday, October 8
Hearing & Vision Screenings - Endeavour School, 1 School Rd., JB-MDL, 9 am - Noon.
https://end.nhanover.com/

Monday, October 11
Columbus Day

Tuesday, October 12
Hearing & Vision Screenings - Mastery Charter School, 415 North 9th St., Camden, 9 am - Noon.
Masterycharter.org

Wednesday, October 13
Developmental Screenings - C.A.R.E For Me Children’s Learning Center, 6002 Westfield Ave., Pennsauken, 9 am - Noon.
http://www.careformeclc.org/

Thursday, October 14
Dental Screenings - Endeavour School, 1 School Rd., JB-MDL, 9 am - Noon.
https://end.nhanover.com/

Friday, October 15
Hearing & Vision Screenings - Endeavour School, 1 School Rd., JB-MDL, 9 am - Noon.
https://end.nhanover.com/

Monday, October 18
Flu Clinic - Maple Shade High School, 180 Frederick Ave., Maple Shade, 8 am - Noon.
https://mshs.mapleshade.org/

Tuesday, October 19
Flu Clinic - Yocum Elementary School, 748 North Forklanding Rd., Maple Shade, 8 am - Noon.
https://hye.mapleshade.org/

Wednesday, October 20
Developmental Screenings - Pinelands Family Success Center, 55 Pemberton Browns Mills Rd., Pemberton Township, 9 am - Noon.
https://www.pembertonfsc.org/

Thursday, October 21
Dental Screenings - CB Lamb School, 46 School House Rd., Wrightstown, 9 am - Noon.
https://cbl.nhanover.com/

Friday, October 22
Physicals - Beverly City School, 601 Bentley Ave., Beverly 08010, 9 am - Noon
https://www.beverlycityschool.org/

Monday, October 25
Flu Clinic - My Angels Playhouse, 6002 Wayne Ave, Pennsauken, 8 am – Noon.

Tuesday, October 26
Flu Clinic - Over the Rainbow Child Care Center, 146 Route 130, Bordentown, 8 a.m. - Noon.
https://overtherainbowcdc.com/

Wednesday, October 27
Hearing & Vision Screenings - Mastery Charter School, 415 North 9th St., Camden, 9 am - Noon.
Masterycharter.org

Thursday, October 28
Dental Screenings - Ft. Dix. Elementary, 1199 Julius Town Rd., Fort Dix, 9 am - Noon.
https://www.pemberton.k12.nj.us/domain/1214

Friday, October 29
Physicals - Mastery Charter School, 415 North 9th St., Camden, 9 am - Noon.
Masterycharter.org

2021 Flu Vaccine Clinics

Virtua Pediatric Mobile Services is offering free Flu Vaccine Clinics for Fall 2020. No appointments are necessary. Walk-Ins are welcome! Please check the schedule frequently for updates.

October

Monday, October 18
Maple Shade High School, 180 Frederick Ave., Maple Shade, 8 am - Noon
https://mshs.mapleshade.org/

Tuesday, October 19
Maple Shade High School, 180 Frederick Ave., Maple Shade, 8 am - Noon
https://mshs.mapleshade.org/

Monday, October 25
My Angels Playhouse, 6002 Wayne Ave., Pennsauken, 8 am - Noon

Tuesday, October 26
Over the Rainbow Child Care Center, 146 Route 130, Bordentown, 8 am - Noon
https://overtherainbowcdc.com/

About the Program

Such tremendous need exists in the medically underserved areas across Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties, and our youngest residents, children from infancy to age six, often quietly suﬀer the most. Without access to routine exams and screenings, children with developmental delays and other health concerns are not identiﬁed early, so issues go undetected and unaddressed during a critical period of their development.

For children with limited access to nutritious foods and basic dental hygiene, it is often too late for healthy teeth by the time they get to kindergarten and see a dentist for the first time. Furthermore, children who do not receive their immunizations are not permitted to attend public school, leaving them at home for weeks and months at a time in aging houses and apartments that expose them to dangerous levels of lead.

Through a generous gift from the Joseph Lacroce Foundation, Virtua's Pediatric Mobile Services Program aims to address the health needs of children across South Jersey. The mobile program will bring pediatric services directly to those children who are living in medically underserved and impoverished urban and rural communities across Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties.

Virtua’s Pediatric Mobile Services Program team will provide a range of services, including:

Developmental screenings
Oral health education and dental screenings
Flu shots
Lead blood level screenings
Lead education for healthy homes
Back-to-school physicals
Vision and hearing screenings
Community resources
Referrals to specialized services

The Pediatric Mobile Services Program will also equip parents with the knowledge and resources they need to help their children grow and thrive.

Partnerships

Collaboration with community partners is the key to our success. Thank you to our partners:

Powered by Philanthropy
This program is made possible, in part, by Virtua’s generous philanthropic partners. To make a gift, please visit GiveToVirtua.org.

Thank you to the following supporters:

Joseph_Lacroce-Foundation-logo TD Charitable Foundation logo

Photos

Virtua-Pediatric-Mobile-Unit Pediatric-Mobile-Unit-bubbles Pediatric-Mobile-Unit-blocks

Mobile Pediatrics Services - Virtua Pediatric-Mobile-Unit-Dental_Screen-2 Pediatric-Mobile-Unit-Dental-Screen

Pediatric-Mobile-Unit-physical

Health Facts

Early Detection and Intervention of Child Developmental Delay

High quality early intervention services can change a child's developmental trajectory and improve outcomes for children, families, and communities.

Services to young children who have or are at risk for developmental delays have been shown to positively impact outcomes across developmental domains, including health, language and communication, cognitive development and social/emotional development. Benefits to society include reducing economic burden through a decreased need for special education.
Early social/ emotional development and physical health provide the foundation upon which cognitive and language skills develop.

Decades of rigorous research show that children’s earliest experiences play a critical role in brain development. The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University has summarized this research:

Neural circuits, which create the foundation for learning, behavior and health, are most flexible or “plastic” during the first three years of life. Over time, they become increasingly difficult to change.
Persistent “toxic” stress, such as extreme poverty, abuse and neglect, or severe maternal depression can damage the developing brain, leading to lifelong problems in learning, behavior, and physical and mental health.|
The brain is strengthened by positive early experiences, especially stable relationships with caring and responsive adults, safe and supportive environments, and appropriate nutrition.
Early social/ emotional development and physical health provide the foundation upon which cognitive and language skills develop.|
High quality early intervention services can change a child’s developmental trajectory and improve outcomes for children, families, and communities.
Intervention is likely to be more effective and less costly when it is provided earlier in life rather than later.

Click here for more information.

Dental Care and Oral Health

According to the Centers for Disease Control, tooth decay is among the most common chronic conditions of childhood. One in 5 children, aged five to 11, and 1 in 7 children, aged 12 to 19, have at least one untreated cavity.

These numbers are higher for children from minority and low-income families. African-American and Hispanic children are more likely than white children to have cavities in their primary (baby) teeth and are twice as likely as white children to have untreated cavities. The disparity in untreated cavities continues into the teen years.

A report by the Pew Charitable Trusts states that untreated tooth decay "can cause pain and infection that may lead to difficulty eating, speaking, socializing and sleeping, as well as poor overall health." Tooth decay can also contribute to low self-esteem and dental health problems.

Dental problems can also adversely affect both school attendance and performance. A report issued by the U.S. Surgeon General in 2000, estimated that more than 51 million school hours were lost annually due to dental-related illnesses.

Click here for more information.

Lead Exposure and Lead Poisoning

There is no safe level of lead in children. As lead exposure continues to be an ongoing health challenge, it is important that parents take precautionary measures to keep their children safe and healthy. While exposure can damage a child’s learning and development, it can be prevented.

Lead can disrupt the normal growth and development of a child’s brain and central nervous system. While lead paint lead paint in homes built before 1978 remains the largest contributor to elevated blood lead levels in children, there are many different lead exposure sources, including water from leaded pipes and imported toys, candy, spices, jewelry, cosmetics, herbal remedies, and pottery.

The New Jersey Department of Health provides resources for parents to stay informed so child lead exposure can be avoided.

Who Is at Risk?

Children under the age of 6 years because they are growing so rapidly and because they tend to put their hands or other objects into their mouths.
Children from all social and economic levels can be affected by lead poisoning, although children living at or below the poverty line who live in older housing are at greatest risk.
Children of some racial and ethnic groups and those living in older housing are disproportionately affected by lead. For example, 3% of black children compared to 1.3% of white children have elevated blood lead levels.

Click here for more information.