PHOENIX – Arizona State University College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation will launch a mobile health initiative to bring essential primary care health services to underserved communities in the state. The project will be funded with a $700,000 grant from UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth group company.

The college will use the grant to invest in a healthcare van, which will be fully equipped with an electronic health records and a computerized health data system that incorporates evidence-based clinical decision support software, in order to link the mobile van services to other healthcare settings. The van will provide a broad range of preventive screening and primary care services, including treatment for mild to acute illness, management of chronic conditions, immunizations and wellness programs.

Services will be available to all Arizonans and their children, uninsured or insured, regardless of benefit coverage or health plan affiliation.

"We applaud UnitedHealthcare's support of ASU services to address unmet clinical health challenges in underserved communities," said Denise Link, associate dean for Clinical Practice and Community Partnerships and clinical associate professor of the ASU College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation. "UnitedHealth Group clearly recognizes the important role that nurse practitioners play in expanding access to essential healthcare services. Not only will this grant help us provide much needed care, it will also assist ASU in advancing new models of cost-effective care delivery and opportunities to educate future health professionals to serve the citizens of our state."

The funding will also be used to start pediatric obesity and child-teen mental health programs for depression and anxiety disorders as part of a broader community health and wellness initiative by the ASU nursing college.

ASU nurse practitioners, faculty, and nursing and related health profession students will staff the van and the other new health initiatives.

"Arizona State University plays a critical and highly effective role in providing essential clinical services in Arizona, so we are pleased to support those vital efforts," said Benton Davis, CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Arizona. "We especially appreciate ASU's leadership in encouraging and nurturing the planning for this project and supporting public/private partnerships that help improve access to healthcare for all Arizonans."

UnitedHealth Group offers health benefits, including commercial, Medicare and Medicaid health plans, to nearly 1.2 million Arizonans and contracts with about 7,400 physicians and 80 hospitals statewide.