Mobile Health Unit
The Palmetto Palace Mobile Health Unit brings preventive medical and dental care directly into the communities that need it most. From wellness exams and vaccines to dental screenings and chronic disease support, our team meets people where they are — building trust, closing gaps in care, and connecting neighbors to the follow-up support they need to stay healthy.
The Need We Serve
Across Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties, thousands of households struggle to afford the basics of housing, food, transportation, and healthcare. Statewide, 42% of South Carolina households fall below the ALICE threshold, according to United For ALICE. In Dorchester County alone, more than 1 in 10 residents under 65 have no health insurance at all. These are the neighbors our Mobile Health Unit exists to serve — providing preventive care, screenings, and support to families who need it most, regardless of their ability to pay.
What We Offer
Preventive Care & Screenings
Well-women visits, adult physicals, risk assessments, and routine labs that catch health concerns early — before they become emergencies.
Vaccines
COVID-19, influenza, and other essential immunizations, delivered by a unit approved by the South Carolina Department of Public Health — along with clear, judgment-free answers about vaccine safety and side effects, especially for people managing diabetes, asthma, or hypertension.
Oral Health
Dental screenings, cleanings, and procedures, paired with practical, everyday education on caring for your teeth and gums.
Chronic Disease Support
Ongoing help managing diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and other chronic conditions — including access to non-narcotic medications and coordinated follow-up care with our healthcare partners.
Health Education, Your Way
Culturally and linguistically responsive conversations — not lectures — about vaccines, chronic disease, and staying well, led by people our communities already know and trust.
Beyond Healthcare
Referrals and support connecting families to healthy food access and other resources that affect health just as much as medical care does.
Who We Serve
We currently serve individuals ages 15 and older. At this time, we are not able to provide services for children under age 15 on the Mobile Health Unit. Expanding services for younger children is a future goal, and we will update this page as eligibility changes.
Community Health Events
Beyond our regular stops, we periodically host larger community health screening and education events to expand access to diabetes and hypertension screening, connect people to our healthcare partners for documented follow-up care, and respond to health needs as they emerge. As our fleet grows, we're planning events that bring multiple vehicles together in one location for an even bigger impact. These events grow and change based on what our communities tell us they need.
The Vehicle
The Palmetto Palace Mobile Health Unit is a Mathews Specialty Vehicles Coach Series 4000-40-102 with three rooms and a wheelchair lift — including a primary care exam room with telemedicine support, a dental operatory with teledentistry support, and a center coordination area for referrals and registration, plus onboard cellular data service from Verizon.
Request the Mobile Health Unit
The Palmetto Palace Mobile Health Unit is currently available to support community events, clinics, and outreach days in our service area. While we are not traveling on a fixed schedule at this time, organizations can request the unit to come to their location for targeted services. After you submit a request, our team will review it and follow up to discuss availability, services, and any associated costs or requirements.
Support the Palmetto Palace’s Mobile Health Unit through a one-time or recurring donation!
FAQs
-
Yes, we are currently accepting Medicaid for Mobile Health Unit services.
-
We are always looking for volunteers with a variety of experience and skill sets. Please check out our volunteer listings and reach out if you are interested in volunteering with us!
-
Yes. Our unit is approved by the South Carolina Department of Public Health to administer COVID-19, influenza, and other vaccines, and our team is glad to answer questions about safety and side effects.
DATA SOURCES:
United For ALICE: 42% of South Carolina households (905,000+ of the state's 2,156,513 households) were below the ALICE Threshold in 2023, per United For ALICE's South Carolina key findings (unitedforalice.org/key-findings/south-carolina).
U.S. Census Bureau / American Community Survey via DataUSA: 10.4% of the population under 65 in Dorchester County was uninsured in 2025 (datausa.io/profile/geo/dorchester-county-sc).