Health Wagon prepares for new year with new services

WISE – The Health Wagon is looking to expand their operations over the next year. The group, which offers a variety of free health care services, is looking to incorporate more specialized care, artificial intelligence tools, disaster preparedness and interdisciplinary services into its care. At the top of the list is a new Veterinary Clinic and Outreach Center, which will be built next to the organization's dental clinic in Wise, Virginia. The 4,200-square-foot facility will be funded through Gov. Glenn Youngkin's Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization awards and will offer spay and neuter surgeries, vaccinations, dental care and other resources. "We're looking at population health. It's all connected," said Dr. Teresa Tyson, Health Wagon president and chief executive officer. She added that many people forgo their own health needs to pay for their pets' food or veterinary visits. The organization also wants to leverage AI. Tyson said some tools, like devices that summarize conversations between patients and providers, could cut down on the time spent to document appointments. A figure sits on the desk of Sister Bernadette "Bernie" Kenny, the founder of The Health Wagon. JOY MAZUR/SIX RIVERS MEDIA Tyson added that Health Wagon is in talks to offer tools for disaster preparedness as well. Triage boxes or pallets with satellite communication devices and emergency medical supplies could help treat people in crisis situations, she said. "We would pre-position these deployment boxes in places that we identify that could be hit," Tyson said. "We're prone to flooding." A recent $50,000 grant from Sun Life U.S. and DentaQuest will also help the organization's dental clinic, especially in care for people with diabetes. Tyson said poor dental health can have a large effect on blood sugar. "You pull that tooth with that abscess, all that infection in their body, those blood sugars usually normalize within two, three hours," she added. Dr. Teresa Tyson sits at her desk at The Health Wagon in Wise, Va. JOY MAZUR/SIX RIVERS MEDIA Reflecting on the patients that have suffered without health care in rural areas, Tyson noted there's a reason the group offers a wide range of services. "Ain't nobody gonna do it if you don't do it," she said. "So why don't you just learn to do it and be done with it?"