Community Outreach Program Profile: Community Care-A-Van

Bringing Good Medicine to the Community

For years, Johns Hopkins Bayview has provided health care services to meet the diverse needs of the communities we serve. Our commitment to patient care, teaching and research gives our patients the benefits of the latest technology and exciting medical discoveries. Sometimes, this top-notch care is provided in unexpected places—namely the Community Care-A-Van.

A 40-foot mobile medical unit, the Care-A-Van takes health care on the road—traveling throughout Southeast Baltimore neighborhoods four days a week to provide services to adults and children who do not have a regular source of medical care. Equipped with two exam rooms, a small laboratory area, waiting area and bathroom, the Care-A-Van has served the community since 1999 and logs approximately 2,800 patient visits each year. Its staff of dedicated medical professionals administer vaccines, perform physicals, provide primary care services and offer acute care to those who are sick or injured, many of whom are uninsured or ineligible for medical assistance. Free testing for sexually transmitted disease and HIV also is offered, as are referrals for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), food stamps and Medicaid.

What sets the Care-A-Van apart goes beyond its ability to provide good medicine to those in need. The Care-A-Van and its staff have become trusted resources to help community members navigate the health care system, learn about disease prevention and receive guidance during difficult times.

A Patient’s Expression of Gratitude: Liu Forno

Shortly after arriving in the United States, Liu Forno, an immigrant from Chile, prepared to send her oldest child to kindergarten. As with all children starting school for the first time, Forno needed to show documentation of her son’s vaccines and schedule a pre-school physical. With no health insurance, she turned to Centro de la Comunidad for assistance. This non-profit organization, which provides health care, housing and employment services to the Hispanic community, referred Forno to the Care-A-Van.

“Without the Care-A-Van, my family and I would not have been able to receive or afford the health care we needed,” she confides, adding that her experience with the program has evolved into more than just medical care. It has grown into a friendship that is based on compassion and trust. “Pat has always been there for us and makes us feel comfortable whenever we visit her. You can tell she genuinely loves what she does and is dedicated to giving her patients the best care possible.”

A Provider’s Passion for Caring: Pat Letke-Alexander

Pat Letke-Alexander, PA-C, has been the “driving” force behind the Care-A-Van since its inception. As clinical director, she understands the barriers that some individuals face when seeking health care and is always devising ways to deliver care in the most optimal and meaningful ways.

To honor her clinical expertise and dedication to community service, Letke-Alexander has been recognized by the Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants as Physician Assistant (PA) of the Year. She also received the first-ever Dr. Sebastian Russo Memorial Award, given by the Baltimore City Health Department, which honors a doctor, nurse, physician assistant or other health care provider for tireless and devoted service to patients and reducing barriers to health care access.

“I do this because the people we see often have such limited resources, not only in financial terms, but also emotional terms,” she explains. “I know that my being here is not going to change their entire world, but I know it can change an aspect of their world in a positive way. I have always been an advocate of the ‘teach a person to fish instead of giving them a fish’ philosophy, but some people can’t even fish. I want to be there to encourage them, be their advocate, their guide, their cheerleader and empower them to take the next steps. Many times, when people leave the Care-A-Van, their bodies are the same as they were when they came in, but their spirit has changed so much for the better.”