State-Funded Wellmobiles Strengthen UMSON’s Commitment to Community Health
November 12, 2025
Two new 40-foot-long Wellmobiles, funded by a $1 million allocation from the state of Maryland, will help pave the way for the mobile nurse-managed health clinic to expand its outreach in helping uninsured and underserved residents. Each of the new trucks features state-of-the art equipment, two exam rooms, and an entry area, and it expands to a large walk-in area when parked. An older truck remains in storage and serves as a backup, with potential use in emergencies or for special projects, such as when the Wellmobiles were used for COVID-19 testing and vaccinations during the pandemic.
The Governor’s Governor's Wellmobile Program has provided continuous primary care services since its founding in 1994. Operating four days a week, it delivers care primarily to Spanish- and French-speaking, uninsured, and underserved immigrants in Prince George’s County, treating common chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. In fiscal year 2025, the program served approximately 1,600 patients.
In addition to managing chronic diseases, the Wellmobile program offers preventive care and health education, including blood pressure and glucose screenings, breast exams, and referrals for cervical cancer screenings, mammography, and colonoscopy. By improving disease management, the clinic helps patients avoid costly emergency care. Wellmobile providers also participate in community outreach, including help with scheduling appointments, arranging lab work and imaging studies, and making referrals.
“By meeting the primary and preventive health needs of marginalized patients, we help support healthy, vibrant communities in Central Maryland,” said Veronica Gutchell, DNP ’13, RN, CNS, CRNP, assistant professor and director of the Wellmobile program.
Nurse practitioners staff the Wellmobiles on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, while Janet Selway, DNSc, MS ’88, AGNP-C, CPNP-PC, FAANP, associate professor and director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty, and Oluchi Ayichi, DNP ’17, MSN ’11, BSN ’01, RN, CRNP, assistant professor, share clinical responsibilities on Wednesdays.
“I love the patients,” Selway said. “They are hard-working, lovely people who want to be healthy and are grateful for the services we provide. They navigate enormous challenges and inspire me. We are meeting UMSON’s core values through this work, especially Equity and Justice, during a time when equity and justice are under duress.”
Since a majority of Wellmobile patients speak Spanish and several patients are from French-speaking countries in Africa, the clinic recently began using an artificial intelligence medical interpretation app for conducting visits in Spanish and French, improving patient care. Two outreach workers – one who speaks Spanish and the other with limited Spanish-speaking capabilities – help communicate with patients, making use of the interpretation app.
“In the past, we relied entirely on a bilingual community outreach worker to be able to go out, and if she needed time off or called out sick, then the Wellmobile couldn’t go out,” Gutchell said. “I was looking for another way for us to be able to conduct our visits and see patients, even if we didn’t have the outreach worker who was really serving as a medical interpreter.”
After several months of using the app, Gutchell said, “it’s been a game changer. The nurse practitioners and faculty members find it helpful, and some of the patients think it’s excellent.”
The Wellmobile program also serves as a clinical education site, providing an opportunity for UMSON students to gain firsthand nursing experience with a focus on community and public health. UMSON DNP Family Nurse Practitioner students rotate through the Wellmobile program for community health education, gaining experience in assessment, diagnosis, and chronic disease management under faculty supervision. Students see both new and returning patients and conduct full histories and exams.
After a decline in patient visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinic is rebuilding its base through a partnership with CASA Inc., a nonprofit organization that serves immigrant and underserved communities across Maryland. Gutchell said the collaboration, which includes telehealth visits, has been instrumental in reaching new patients.
The program continues to conduct telehealth visits and plans to expand in-person operations in coming months.
“There might be an opportunity for the Wellmobile to help out in Baltimore, because we have two drivers and two trucks,” Gutchell said. “So, one driver could go out to Prince George’s County, and another driver could go out into Baltimore. That would be pretty exciting.”
Expanding service to the Eastern Shore is also a possibility, Gutchell said: “The logistics of expanding to rural areas are challenging, but the clinic’s goal is to promote access to care where it’s needed.”
The Wellmobiles also participate in various health fairs throughout the region by providing screenings for chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes
Like Selway, Ayichi also enjoys providing health care through the Wellmobile program. “What I appreciate most is how fulfilling it is to serve patients who might otherwise lack access to health care,” she said. “The patients are genuinely grateful for the efforts we make to ensure they receive the care they need. Plus, everyone on the Wellmobile team is deeply committed to the mission. There is a strong sense of understanding, respect for our patients, and true teamwork in providing care.”