In a significant step toward health care equity, Cooper University Health Care has officially launched a specialized Mobile Primary Care Unit dedicated to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The initiative aims to bring high-quality, person-centered medical care directly to patients’ doorsteps throughout Southern New Jersey.
The mobile unit is designed to eliminate the logistical and sensory barriers that often make traditional doctor’s offices inaccessible or overwhelming for the IDD community. By delivering care in the comfort of a patient’s home, community residence, or group home, the program seeks to foster a more inclusive and less stressful healthcare experience.
The program is staffed by a multidisciplinary team—including Physicians, Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs), and support personnel—specifically trained to address the unique medical and behavioral needs of individuals with IDD.
The Mobile Unit functions as a direct extension of Cooper’s primary care network, offering a comprehensive suite of services:
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Routine Health Assessments: Annual wellness exams and preventive screenings.
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Sick Visits: Immediate care for acute illnesses to prevent emergency room visits.
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Chronic Condition Management: Ongoing support for complex or long-term health issues.
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Post-Hospitalization Follow-up: Seamless transition care after a hospital stay.
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Caregiver Education: Resources and training for families and residential staff.
For many in the IDD community, the journey to a clinic can involve significant transportation hurdles and sensory triggers. Cooper officials emphasize that “meeting patients where they are” is key to reducing missed appointments and avoidable hospitalizations.
“This program reflects Cooper’s commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and excellence in care for one of our most vulnerable populations,” Franziska Jovin, senior vice president and chief experience officer at Cooper said. “By meeting patients where they are, we aim to reduce stress, minimize missed appointments and emergency room visits, and improve overall health outcomes.”
The Mobile Unit works in close collaboration with each patient’s established Cooper primary care provider to ensure continuity of care. This ensures that every visit made by the mobile team is aligned with the patient’s long-term health records and existing treatment plans.
The program builds on Cooper’s existing IDD Support Program, which already includes sensory-friendly spaces and dedicated IDD navigators to help families coordinate complex care needs across the health system.
