In this location, there are high rates of HIV-related cases, representatives for CHN told Business Insider.
Since CHN has been around for over three decades, most people know when the vans will show up from the schedule or by word of mouth. If patients like the service, they might bring their family, friends, or partners as well.
The first van was in the Lower East Side, where CHN provided basic medical care to the homeless population. Molano said that by having a van come to the communities on a weekly or twice-weekly basis, the organization ensured that people who might not otherwise receive medical care could get access to these services.
"What might be obstacles at other clinics, here, are not. We see you regardless of income," Molano said. "We see many people who have never even seen providers."
"When I think of mobile care, it really is the essence of community health," Okon told Business Insider. "It makes sense to go where the community needs you. It's an evolving model of what primary care traditionally looks like."
Waits said he likes that there isn't usually a long wait time, unlike at other health clinics.
"It's really quick, which is great. I'm usually not here for longer than an hour," Waits said. "The services they provide are limited, but what they can provide for sexual health and basic care is very comprehensive."
During this visit, Waits had to show paperwork with his income to see what insurance he qualified for. But Waits said he doesn't see the point in getting insurance.
"I'm in a weird bracket where I don't make a ton of money but I'm not super poor — I'm in this mid-range," he said. "To pay a monthly premium and high deductibles doesn't make sense to me. I'd rather just pay the fee when I use the emergency room, which is rare. It actually ends up costing less."
Okon said CHN provides a lot of sexual-health education and care with PrEP.
"This is an open environment, and we want people to feel comfortable and feel like this is their community," she said.
Okon has some recurring patients and has become a personal care provider for some patients over the years. She is in the mobile van two to three days a week and works at a CHN clinic in the South Bronx.
"I have been here for 30 years, and I've stayed because CHN is committed to serving those most in need," Molano said. "Right now, in this political environment, more than ever, we need to be serving these communities."
"It's really important for us to start building on integrated care and to connect behavioral-health agencies to healthcare services and vice versa," Hayes said.
Molano said CHN is also working on an emergency case fund to provide people with basic social services like housing, food, and substance-abuse treatment.
"We want to have that holistic approach and cover the social determinants of health," he said.
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