End of the road? Dover's Zufall Health seeks $500K to replace rusting medical outreach van

Time exacts a heavy toll after 14 years and 84,000 miles on harsh New Jersey roads.

The end of the road is rapidly approaching for Zufall Health Center's mobile medical van, which delivers health services to underserved, low-income and immigrant patients throughout North and Central Jersey.

The good news is a fund drive to replace the 38-foot biodiesel-powered bus is off to a fast start. But with a price tag of $500,000, the Dover-based nonprofit organization, which serves an estimated 44,000 patients annually, is reaching out for sponsors and public support.

"Rust has seriously damaged Zufall Health's medical van, corroding the frame and weakening the undercarriage's ability to support the generator and water tanks," Zufall CEO Frances Palm told the Daily Record this week. "As a result, we've had to invest in costly emergency repairs, causing disruptions to our clinical operations."

Palm hosted a Be Well benefit event last week at Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park, where $200,000 was raised to kick off the medical-van fund drive.

"This is something that perhaps I will be able to help them with through potentially an allocation in next year's state budget," said state Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco, who attended the benefit. The Republican's district includes Dover and Morristown, both of which have a Zufall clinic.

Dr. Robert Zufall and his wife, Kathryn, opened a small community clinic in Dover in 1990 to provide medical care to poor, mostly immigrant families. The system has grown to include 12 service sites in 10 towns as well as the Highlands Health Van and Delta Dental mobile units. Zufall also operates in Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex and Essex counties.

"I've been a longtime supporter of the Zufall clinic, which started out in a small storefront in Dover and now has grown to just a really fabulous organization, providing health care for those in need," Bucco said.

The van, essentially a hospital on wheels, allows Zufall to reach patients who cannot get to one of its clinics. Van breakdowns result in missed appointments.

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Zufall staff produced a video highlighting the van's mission, including testimonials from those who have benefitted from the service.

"Securing a new, dependable van will allow Zufall Health to reach vulnerable patients cost-effectively and without interruptions," Palm said.

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) is another big supporter of the service, which operates in much of her district.

“Time and again, I am so impressed by Zufall’s ability to expand access to affordable, high-quality care," Sherrill said. "They do so with compassion and kindness that I know makes a positive impact on all corners of our community. A new mobile health van would ensure they can continue to provide access and care for residents throughout NJ-11. I am proud to support the work they do.”

But in terms of additional federal funding for the van, Sherrill could make no promises.

"In terms of federal funding, a healthcare provider looking to replace a mobile care van would’ve made a great community project," Sherrill said. But House Republicans, who hold the majority in the chamber, have restricted funding for community health projects, she said.

Turbiner honored

The Be Well Benefit also honored former president and CEO Eva Turbiner, who oversaw Zufall's growth over the past 16 years.

Turbiner last year beat the medical van into retirement. Palm was hired as her replacement earlier this year following a nationwide search.

"[Thanks to Turbiner], Zufall Health is one of the largest health centers in New Jersey and ranks within the top 10% nationwide in clinical outcomes," Palm said at the benefit. "That was not an accident. That took vision, drive, creativity, tenacity, and leadership."

Palm presented Turbiner with the organization's Founders Award.

"[When I came to Zufall], it was my intention to build a comprehensive system of care that would identify and respond to community needs wherever we found them," Turbiner said. "It was always our philosophy that we had to bring services to needy communities and not expect that our patients would come to one big building in Dover."

Zufall spokesperson Lauren McGrath said the organization will continue fundraising efforts for the van with a Giving Tuesday campaign scheduled for Nov. 28, and an end-of-year appeal.

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com Twitter: @wwesthoven

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Dover NJ nonprofit needs $500K to replace medical van for needy