The Health Wagon will be returning for the 26th year to Wise County for a FREE health care expo at the Health Wagon Facilities at 5626 Patriot Drive, Wise, Va. during the weekend of July 18-19 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Health Wagon, including a team of dedicated general and medical volunteers, multiple partners including universities from across the region and country, work together to provide dental, medical, and specialty care to the uninsured, underinsured, unemployed, working poor, and others who cannot afford to pay. All services are FREE of charge. No pets allowed at Health Wagon (service animals only). This is a tobacco free event.
Location: The Health Wagon, 5626 Patriot Drive, Wise, VA 24293
Event Dates: Friday, July 18 to Saturday, July 19, 2024.
Registration: Friday and Saturday registration opens at 7AM. No overnight parking. Patients will be served on a first come, first serve basis. Optional pre-registration begins July 18 at noon. Pre-registration is strongly recommended to cut down on wait time for medical services. Appointments are available for all specialty vision and medical services.
Services To Be Provided Over Two-Day Event:
Medical Care-Adult and Pediatric – Health care professionals will be available to provide
comprehensive physical examinations. There are lots of diagnostics services available if medically indicated such as ultrasounds and x-rays. Blood work will be available to check many routine conditions such as cholesterol, diabetes, thyroid, etc. Additional labs may be performed if medically indicated. Patients are encouraged to not eat or drink after midnight (except water and black coffee) if having blood work performed and continue to take your regularly scheduled medications.
Fast track medical passes may be available for those who need to see a particular specialist for a certain test or individuals with disability.
List of Services:
– Specialist Exams
– EKGs
– Diabetes Screening/Foot Care
– Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)
– Bone Density Tests
– Blood Work, Cholesterol, and Blood Sugar
– Breathing Tests
– Chest X-Rays
– Pap Smears
– Mammograms
– Colposcopy
– Skin/Biopsies
– Cancer Screenings
– Oral cancer Screenings
– Joint Injections
– Echocardiograms (appointment required)
– Ultrasounds (appointment required)
– Substance Use Disorder Counseling
– Pastoral Care
– Mental Health
– Hearing Screenings/Hearing Aid Assistance
– Orthopedic/Joint Injections
– Walk Through Super Colon
– Sports Physicals
– Colon Cancer Screening/FIT Test
Dental Services – The Owens-Hill Dental Clinic will be open for routine dental procedures by appointment only:
Cleanings, fillings, extractions, oral cancer screenings.
Screenings. Services will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information on dental, call 276-221-6055.
Veterinary Clinic: A separate, veterinary clinic will be held at the Shelcy Mullins Fairgrounds July 18 and 19. Call 276-328-8850 to schedule an appointment. Wellness
exams and limited examinations and medications along with limited pet supplies, will be provided.
Vision Services – Vision services will be provided and will include eye exams,
glaucoma testing, and diabetes retinopathy screenings and prescription glasses. Ocular screening July 17 only. The glasses will be made and ready for pickup on-site or a voucher to a local provider will be given to the patient.
Vision Appointments are required, please call 276-328-8850 to schedule.
Women’s Health Services (Pap Smears and Mammograms) – Women can receive pap smears and clinical breast exams. Mammograms will be offered by Ballad Health. Appointments are recommended, please call 276-328-8850 to schedule.
Hearing Exams and Hearing Aid Assistance: Individuals who are having difficulty hearing or just want their hearing evaluated are encouraged to attend. Comprehensive hearing exams will be available from ETSU Audiology with help from the Lions Club. ETSU Audiology will assist patients requiring hearing aid(s).
A small cost may be associated but may be some assistance for those in need as well. The Lions Club will be providing this valuable service.
Lung Clinic: The Health Wagon’s Medical Director and pulmonologist, Dr. Joseph Smiddy, MD will hold a lung clinic. Pulmonary functioning testing will be provided. Individuals who experience shortness of breath are encouraged to come for additional evaluation. Chest X-rays will also be offered. Individualized assistance and support for quitting smoking and expert asthma management will be provided.
Medication and Insurance Assistance: St. Mary’s Faith Pharmacy will have a pharmacist onsite to assist patients with prescription medications and medication review (please bring your medications).
Positively no prescriptions from outside will be filled at St. Mary’s Pharmacy. No narcotics will be stocked. Individuals are advised to continue to take regularly prescribed medications. If there is a question about a procedure and a particular medication such as Coumadin, aspirin, or any other medication, please contact your primary care provider before the event.
Pharmacy Connect will also be available. This program assists qualifying patients in obtaining free prescription drugs through participating pharmaceutical companies. Medicaid enrollment will be provided to qualifying individuals. Anyone interested in enrolling should bring proof of income as well as the names and SSNs of all household members.
Educational, Social and Spiritual Services: Informational booths and services will be available for subjects such as cancer, mental health, diabetes, exercise, nutrition, and other health topics as well as career services, GED services, legal services, and financial counseling with free credit reports. Feeding SWVA will be onsite providing food boxes to
those in attendance. Pastoral support will be onsite as well. A walk thru Super Colon will be featured and educates on the importance of colon cancer screening.
The health fair expo has been made possible through widespread community support and
involvement of many health care providers and lay individuals. Door prizes and giveaways will also be offered.
For Transportation on Friday, July 19:
MEOC’s MetGO! 1-888-877-6748 or 276-523-7433 OR Downloading the APP
Four County Transit 1-888-656-2272 or 276-963-1486- and two-weeks advance notice is
appreciated.
If any organization would like to participate, please call the Health Wagon to register. For questions or additional information contact the Health Wagon at (276) 328-8850, the Health Wagon on Facebook which is updated daily, or visit our website at www.thehealthwagon.org.
To register or volunteer for medical or register as a vendor, email contactus@thehealthwagon.org or call 276-328-8850.
History:
In 1999, Stan Brock, Dr. Teresa Tyson, DNP and Sister Bernie Kenny identified a need for medical, dental and vision services for medically underserved patients in Southwest Virginia.
Since that time the lifesaving clinic continues. Now in its 26th year, thousands of volunteers have provided care to tens of thousands of patients in the region. The
Health Wagon has built a strong infrastructure and capacity around eye, dental and medical resources. This 26th year marks a longstanding tradition for the community.
