Cooper debuts mobile unit for disability services

Cooper University Health Care launched a specialized mobile unit to bring healthcare services directly to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across South Jersey.

The Camden-based health system said the mobile unit will serve individuals who face barriers accessing traditional healthcare settings. The vehicle is equipped with medical equipment and staffed by clinicians trained in caring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

“Many individuals with IDD have difficulty accessing routine healthcare due to transportation challenges, anxiety in clinical settings, or lack of providers who understand their specific needs,” said Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli, Cooper’s co-president and CEO.

The mobile unit represents Cooper’s expansion of its IDD Program, which the health system launched to address gaps in specialized care. The program focuses on providing comprehensive medical services tailored to the unique needs of people with developmental disabilities.

Cooper officials said the mobile unit will visit group homes, day programs, and community centers throughout the region. Services include routine medical exams, preventive care, and specialized consultations that typically require patients to travel to Cooper’s main campus in Camden.

The initiative addresses a significant healthcare access issue in New Jersey, where advocates have long pushed for better services for the state’s estimated 200,000 residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“This mobile approach removes many of the traditional barriers that prevent people with disabilities from receiving quality healthcare,” said Jennifer Velez, New Jersey’s Commissioner of Human Services, in a statement supporting the program.

Cooper did not disclose the cost of the mobile unit or funding sources for the program. The health system has invested heavily in community outreach programs as it competes with other major hospital networks serving the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

The mobile unit launch comes as healthcare providers across New Jersey face pressure to expand access to underserved populations. Cooper’s move positions the health system as a leader in disability-focused care in South Jersey.