UTC’s MobileMOC hitting the road to serve rural communities

Members of the MobileMOC team include front row, from left: Stephanie Blaine, Dr. Chris Smith, Dr. Kristi Wick, Becky Miller, Dr. Cathy Scott and Dr. Latisha Toney; back row, from left: Dr. Meagan Oslund, Joshua Epperson, Dr. Shewanee Howard-Baptiste and Lori Coletta. Photo by Angela Foster.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s School of Nursing is set to unveil MobileMOC, a mobile outreach health clinic designed to expand health care access for older adults and caregivers in rural Southeast Tennessee.

A launch celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at noon on Tuesday, March 25, at the Rhea County Welcome Center in Dayton, Tennessee (107 Main St.).

The MobileMOC vehicle was made possible through a $2.6 million grant awarded to the School of Nursing by the Tennessee Department of Health as part of its Healthcare Resiliency Program. The grant-funded project, titled ROAD MAP (Rural Health and Older ADult Interprofessional Mobile HeAlth Program), aims to improve health outcomes by delivering preventive care, screenings, chronic disease management and social services directly to underserved communities.

Dr. Kristi Wick, UC Foundation assistant professor and Vicky B. Gregg Chair in Gerontology, and Vice Provost Shewanee Howard-Baptiste were co-principal investigators on the initiative—leading a ROAD MAP team that includes Dr. Sarah Treat, Dr. Latisha Toney, Dr. Amber Roaché and Dr. Meagan Oslund from the School of Nursing. Other interprofessional collaborators include Dr. Amir Alakaam (Master of Public Health), Dr. Erin Melhorn (Occupational Therapy), Dr. Cathy Scott (Social Work) and Dr. Deborah Mullen (Management).

MobileMOC will serve older adults and caregivers in the Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability district—Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea and Sequatchie counties—by bringing interprofessional health care into underserved areas.

“These rural counties have many older adults with limited access to essential resources,” Wick said. “Some of those counties do not have hospitals or emergency departments, making health care accessibility a significant challenge.

“Senior centers in these communities serve as vital hubs, building strong relationships with older adults. Partnering with these centers gives us a tremendous opportunity to collaborate with their staff and enhance the programs and services they already provide.”

She said older adults in rural Tennessee face increased risks of chronic diseases, cognitive disorders and limited access to health care due to geographic isolation and a lack of resources.

MobileMOC will directly address these challenges.

“Our OT students are excited to expand their reach into rural communities, and bringing targeted health services directly to older adults will be a game-changer in improving access and care,” Melhorn said. “Something as simple as providing education on fall prevention, home modifications or making small tweaks to daily activities can make a huge difference in helping older adults stay independent and improve their quality of life.

“We teach these concepts throughout the OT program, but applying what they’ve learned in real-life situations truly makes the learning stick. The MobileMOC is an incredible opportunity for students to bridge the gap between theory and practice, creating meaningful connections and making a real impact in the communities we serve.”

Scott talked from the social work perspective of bringing faculty and staff to these communities.

“Enhancing the lives of vulnerable individuals through socialization, education and referrals is the basis of social work practice,” Scott said. “Social work faculty and students are excited to offer these services to older adults who will be served through the MobileMOC unit.

“MobileMOC services will offer intergenerational interactions that will enlighten our students on the lived experiences of older adults and rural communities. They will also see firsthand the importance of collaborative partnerships.”

The MobileMOC clinic will serve as both a patient care hub and a learning platform for UTC students preparing for careers in health care.

“This initiative reflects UTC’s dedication to enhancing health outcomes while also creating hands-on learning opportunities for our students,” Wick said. “By being out in the community, we can showcase the vital roles each profession plays in serving others through interactive events and programs. I’m thrilled about the impact this will have and can’t wait to see it in action.”

# # # # #

Launch event details

Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Time: Noon-12:30 p.m. EST (ceremony) … 12:30 p.m. (MobileMOC tours)

Location: Rhea County Welcome Center, 107 Main St., Dayton, Tennessee

Attendees: Regional mayors, state legislators, health care leaders, UTC faculty and students

Special Guests:

Commissioner Ralph Alvarado, Tennessee Department of Health
Commissioner Brad Turner, Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging
UTC leadership and interdisciplinary faculty

Commissioner Alvarado will present a ceremonial check recognizing the investment in expanding rural health care access. Following the ceremony, attendees can tour MobileMOC and observe interprofessional student and faculty demonstrations highlighting how the clinic will integrate nursing, occupational therapy, social work and public health expertise in a real-world setting.