Beep Beep! Wellness on Wheels bus hits the road to offer wellness resources and education throughout Northeast Florida

Collaborating to drive preventive health forward in our community, Baptist Health and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) roll out a new way for residents to access wellness resources and education – the Wellness on Wheels bus. The goal of the Wellness on Wheels program is to conduct outreach, mobile health screenings and education in the community, with a focus on areas that have a higher incidence of health disparities.

“Prevention is the key to building a healthier Jacksonville community,” said Michael A. Mayo, DHA, FACHE, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “By using the Wellness on Wheels bus to offer screenings and education, we can get upstream of major health issues – like stroke and heart attack.”

The Wellness on Wheels bus had a successful “soft launch” debut weekend at two community events in early summer to offer stroke risk screenings and information.

On Saturday, September 28, the bus will be along the LaVilla Link at the Emerald Trail for the 5K/10K race. The Emerald Trail is a vibrant 30-mile walking and biking path that will encircle the urban core of Jacksonville. Additional Wellness on Wheels events will be posted at baptistjax.com/community.

“The Wellness on Wheels bus aligns closely with many of the health and well-being initiatives underway in our community,” said Katie Ensign, vice president of community investment and impact at Baptist Health. “The bus is one more access point to help make health and well-being resources, including stroke and aneurysm risk screenings, accessible to every person.”

JTA’s commitment to the community’s health reaches back many years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, JTA partnered with Agape Family Health, the City of Jacksonville, the Florida Department of Health for Duval County and others to provide mobile vaccination clinics and reliable transportation to vaccination sites.

“Typically, our work is focused on getting people where they need to go,” said JTA CEO Nat Ford. “It is heartening to be involved in this groundbreaking effort to bring lifesaving health care resources directly into the communities where they are needed most. All too often, people put off getting critical screenings and education because of logistical hurdles. The Wellness on Wheels bus will break through those barriers, making it easier for our most vulnerable neighbors to receive the evaluations and care they need and deserve.”