OUR INSPIRATION
The story begins with our founder's grandmother, the incredible Kathy Minardi. During the holidays, she would often take the train from Connecticut to a small Carolina town to visit friends and family. On one such trip, she noticed abandoned train cars along the rails... and the opportunity to use them for good. And so, Railcare Health was born with the goal of converting one of these structures into a mobile health clinic. Although we've since transitioned to operating out of a shuttle bus, the dream of increasing rural healthcare access remains at the heart of our mission.
DRIVEN BY DISPARITY: GAPS IN RURAL CARE
Hospital Closures
In the past two decades, 194 rural hospitals have either closed or converted away from in-patient services in the past two decades, 11 of them located in North Carolina (Sheps Center for Health Services Research, UNC-Chapel Hill).
Insurance Instability
North Carolina has one of the largest gaps in Medicaid-covered children between urban and rural areas (Center for Children and Families, Georgetown University). Rural populations make up an outsized proportion of NC's Medicaid enrollment, making them more vulnerable to recently proposed cuts to the program.
Healthcare Challenges
Healthcare Challenges
From lack of specialist availability to outdated infrastructure, rural hospitals must navigate complex challenges to remain operational. Thankfully, organizations like the Bipartisan Policy Institute have invested in formulating a plan towards improvement. Touching on everything from telehealth to revised payment modes, their model offers an innovative path towards a more efficient future of care.
OUR APPROACH
Our Medical Operations team follows a precise distribution model, identifying populations in need of service and coordinating all aspects of our mobile clinic events. We leverage resources from local organizations and institutions to provide top-notch care to rural North Carolinians who need it most.
PAST AND CURRENT PARTNERS
