Setting The Standard for Mobile Healthcare

A partnership between CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics, UT Health and the Houston Health Department has become a model for other healthcare groups. Started in early 2025, the collaboration to provide vaccinations to middle schoolers in Goose Creek ISD and some schools in HISD, Galena Park ISD and Aldine ISD has spirited a shift in how care is provided and minimized the spread of disease by increasing herd immunity.

“These new partnerships are changing the model for how we vaccinate,” Nancy Bocanegra, Healthy Living Mobile Clinics program supervisor, said. “By taking the service to where it is easiest for parents and schools, we have been able to evolve to continue serving those who need it most.”

Utilizing a streamlined form developed by the Mobile Clinics, UT Health works directly with the schools and parents on consent paperwork. Then the Mobile Clinics arrive on a selected day and time to administer the vaccinations required. “We have worked hard over the last five years to develop better operational processes and we are finally seeing the fruit of our labors with these partnerships,” Bocanegra said.

UT Health and the Houston Health Department have shared these processes with healthcare groups such as Texas Children’s Hospital and Memorial Hermann and are encouraging them to use the Mobile Clinics model for their programs.

Bocanegra sees an opportunity to apply this model for other communities. “In the future, we hope to broaden the scope to underserved, working adults by bringing vaccinations to their workplaces.”