Wellness on Wheels

Wellness on Wheels: The WOW Bus

A Community-centered approach to healthcare

Wellness on Wheels — the WOW Bus — travels to communities in and around Springfield providing free or low-cost screenings, health education, and counseling. The Bus meets them where they live and work, connecting with the community by:

• Offering preventive medicine
• Teaching classes
• Serving as a COVID-19 mobile unit

We bring preventive care to the community, along with a classroom on wheels that educates the next generation of medical professionals. Operated by Baystate Medical Center, we're part of Baystate Health and supported by funding from TD Bank’s Ready Commitment.

For the people, by the people

To drive how we design and carry out the programs and services we offer on the WOW Bus, our community committee created the following guidelines:

• Do not dictate to the community, so it does not lead to mistrust.
• Use a social justice and equity lens.
• Engage the community in health services. Just because the WOW Bus is present does not mean community residents will engage with it.
• Start by building relationships—by meeting individuals where they are—to be community-centered and based on mutual respect, trust, and transparency.
• Include linkage to care and other needed community resources and services. (Add follow up and keep resources updated)
• Strategies should build on community or population strengths and assets.

Everyone on the WOW Bus — students, faculty, providers, volunteers — goes through an orientation that connects them with our community engagement approach and the community-centered model of care we provide.

The WOW Bus Team

Adrianne Seiler

MD, VP & Chief of Clinical Integration
Provides direct oversight to the WOW Bus strategic planning

Kelly Lamas, MPH, Mobile Health Equity Manager

Oversees the WOW bus operations, leads and implements strategy on community partnerships, outreach and student education, oversees communication with community partners, academic institutions and marketing.

Pedro Vega

WOW Bus driver

WOW Bus community committee members

Areliz Barbosa, BS, CCHW

“I joined the WOW Bus Community Committee to help collaborate and improve access to care to our community members. I believe there is no better way to serve our communities but to meet people where they're at.

Action speaks louder than words — people don't care how much others know until they see how much people care. It’s about showing up and serving people where they're at.”

Lisa Clinton

“There is a true need for mobile healthcare in western MA to increase access and improve health outcomes and is key to reducing health disparities.

My years of work in health promotion and disease prevention, community planning and organization are meaningful contributions to bringing the WOW Bus to life as I work collectively and tirelessly to promote, protect, and restore public health.”

Lara Quiles, MSW, LCSW

“As a social worker, it is important for me to remain involved with the community while advocating for equality and access to care for the population that I serve.

The WOW Bus gives me the space to implement and share these tools with others.”

WOW Bus Community Partners

Our community partners guide the work we do by keeping us informed of their communities' health priorities and letting us know how we can complement the work they’re doing.

Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services

Located in Springfield's Mason Square neighborhood, MLK Jr. Family Services offers programs for after-school literacy, teen leadership, college readiness, violence prevention, public health and nutrition services. This includes an emergency food pantry.

New North Citizens Council

Pynchon Townhomes and Edgewater Towers (with Peabody Property Management) are located in Springfield's Brightwood neighborhood. NCCC provides comprehensive family and social service programs, such as community advocacy, child care, health services, and disability services.

Springfield Housing Authority (3 Locations)

The Springfield Housing Authority (SHA) manages Stephen J Collins Apartments in Saab Court, Moxon Apartments in Indian Orchard, Riverview Apartments in Brightwood. SHA provides affordable housing to a broad range of people, including senior citizens, individuals, families, and persons with disabilities. They offer programs to promote economic self-sufficiency among residents.

Square One (2 Locations)

Square One includes a preschool in the Mason Square neighborhood, and the Mobile Food Market (with Food Bank of Western Massachusetts) in Springfield's South End. Square One’s programs include early education and care, home-based care settings, out of school time care for elementary school age children, and parent education, support and training programs.