Mobile Healthcare Service Expands to Maternity-lacking Areas across La Salle, Bureau, and Putnam Counties
OSF HealthCare, in partnership with Meridian Health Plan of Illinois and the Centene Foundation, has announced the launch of a new mobile maternity care unit aimed at delivering pregnancy and postpartum healthcare services to women living in maternity care deserts across several Illinois counties.
The initiative, funded by a $1.5 million grant for the first three years, seeks to improve birth outcomes by breaking down barriers to care in areas with limited or no access to maternity providers. The mobile unit, named OSF OnCall, will begin operating on July 28, 2025.
The mobile unit is staffed with a medical provider and a medical assistant and is equipped with technology such as a sonogram machine. Services provided on the vehicle include prenatal and postpartum care, sonograms, lab draws, vaccinations, blood pressure monitoring, screening for postpartum depression, breastfeeding support, education and information tailored to each week of pregnancy, regular virtual check-ins via chat, 24/7 access to a specially trained care team for pregnant women and their babies, and assistance to close health gaps affecting maternal outcomes.
All services are free for Medicaid patients enrolled in the OSF OnCall Connect pregnancy and postpartum digital support program. Women can self-enrol or be referred by their healthcare provider or health plan.
The mobile unit will serve women in maternity care deserts across several Illinois counties, including Woodford, Marshall, Knox, Henry, Putnam, Bureau, and LaSalle. The van was officially launched with a blessing event on July 15, 2025, at Dream Center Peoria.
For those interested in joining the OSF OnCall Connect pregnancy and postpartum program, resources are available at [osfoncall.org/pregnancy](http://osfoncall.org/pregnancy). This mobile clinic initiative represents a proactive step toward addressing significant maternity healthcare access gaps in Illinois, where many residents currently travel long distances to reach birthing hospitals. It aims to make prenatal and postpartum care more accessible, especially in rural and underserved communities, ultimately supporting healthier mothers and babies.
The mobile unit, named OSF OnCall, will provide comprehensive health-and-wellness services, including science-based pregnancy and postpartum care, specifically catering to women's health needs in maternity care deserts across several Illinois counties. This initiative, equipped with technology for sonograms and lab draws, also offers resources such as breastfeeding support, education, and screening for postpartum depression, all aimed at improving birth outcomes and making healthcare more accessible.
