Wayne Health Mobile Units Expand Maternal Care in Detroit’s Low-Income Neighborhoods

Wayne Health’s Mobile Units, originally launched in 2020 during the early COVID-19 pandemic, began by delivering tests and vaccinations to residents’ homes. As they drove through Detroit neighborhoods, the team realized the units could offer far more — including expanded maternal healthcare services WDET 101.9 FM.

New Partnership for Maternal Health

In 2024, the Wayne Health Mobile Unit partnered with Meridian in Michigan and the Centene Foundation to address maternal health disparities in Detroit’s low-income communities. The $1.1 million grant will deploy mobile vans to pregnant women — low, moderate, and high-risk — who have not engaged in routine preventive care Today@Wayne+1. The goal is to connect them to Detroit Medical Center’s OB/GYN specialists (many Wayne State faculty) for follow-up care, aiming to reduce maternal mortality rates, which are disproportionately high among Black and Hispanic women in Michigan Today@Wayne.

Targeting Health Disparities

Dr. Phillip Levy, associate vice president for Translational Sciences at Wayne State University and director of the Mobile Unit, emphasized that Black and Brown communities were heavily impacted by the pandemic due to underlying health conditions. He stressed that maternal health must be viewed as part of a woman’s lifelong health, noting that chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes significantly increase risks for adverse birth outcomes and maternal death WDET 101.9 FM.

Data-Driven Outreach

The program uses Wayne State’s Population Health Outcomes Information Exchange (PHOENIX) to map maternal and birth outcomes, identifying neighborhoods with the highest risk. This geospatial analysis ensures targeted outreach and helps address systemic inequities WDET 101.9 FM+1.

Services and Impact

The Mobile Units provide:

• Prenatal care from conception through labor
• Gynecologic care
• Preventive and curative services
• Social support to address barriers like healthcare costs and hospital access Wayne Health

By bringing care directly to neighborhoods, the initiative aims to improve both maternal and infant health outcomes, reduce preventable deaths, and expand access to quality care in underserved areas Today@Wayne+1.

For more information or to book an appointment, Wayne Health’s Women’s Mobile Health Unit can be reached at (313) 448-9850