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Public Health Mobile Unit

Nova Scotia Health began responding to COVID-19 early in 2020. Within and across public health, staff and leadership were involved continually, responding, innovating, and supporting the pandemic. A key to Nova Scotia’s approach was consistent development of innovations and responses that contributed to the emergency pandemic response. The Public Health Mobile Unit (PHMU), launched in December 2020, was one of these innovations. Focused on COVID-19 testing initially, the work expanded to include supporting public health’s COVID-19 response with immunization, community rapid testing, negative results and navigating community to COVID-19 resources.

In 2022, PHMU identified the need to evaluate its implementation and understand process improvements. Partnering with Nova Scotia Health’s Research and Innovation, the PHMU explored, reflected, and identified areas of strength and opportunities. Taking these evaluation lessons learned from the development, implementation and impact on community also led to actioning an engagement strategy in 2023. An engagement initiative was vital to listen, collaborate with community, inform, and reflect with current stakeholders. PHMU collaborated with Nova Scotia Health’s Engagement team to complete an engagement and listening initiative.

The evaluation and engagement provide understanding to proactively considering the needs and assets of moving forward after COVID-19 response concludes. Maintaining the trust and confidence build through the pandemic response with community, hearing what worked well and what didn’t, enable the PHMU to plan effectively.

As we move forward, we are grateful to those who contributed to the evaluation and engagement. Thank you to everyone who provided insights on how the PHMU can play a role in our communities across Nova Scotia. The final reports are available on this page.

The Public Health Mobile Unit is continuing as a provincial public health program. The development of a refreshed Public Health Mobile Unit Community Response Program was identified as a Public Health transformation priority to support Action for Health in March 2024.

Public Health works with partners and communities to understand and improve the health of the population and reduce impact on the health system. The Public Health Mobile Unit (PHMU) is a provincial community-based program focused on reducing barriers and improving access to core public health services. As the program is being further developed, the PHMU was re-established in the fall 2024 to include system navigation, immunization and supports outbreak response, especially in places with less access to services. This work demonstrates how innovative approaches to healthcare delivery can improve equity and outcomes.

PHMU’s Goals

  • Reduce barriers and improve access to core public health services,
  • Strengthen customer service and engagement in the health system with Nova Scotians, while providing system navigation,
  • Respond to public health emergencies and support outbreak management,
  • Enhance integration within public health programs.

PHMU Work in Community 2024-2026: Expanding access to immunization – specifically for underserved, underrepresented populations or populations experiencing barriers to accessing programs/services –to improve coverage rates and reduce vaccine-preventable illnesses and hospitalizations. Mobile Unit continues working with health system and community partners to identify and respond to public health emergencies and deliver interventions and supports across communities. Mobile Unit work includes connecting and integrating across public health.

In March 2025, Public Health Mobile Unit and NSH Engagement hosted a Learning Health System Webinar sharing how engagement has helped the mobile unit program develop LHS in Action: The Evolution of Public Health Mobile Units in Nova Scotia

Learn where the Public Health Mobile Unit is in your community here Public Health Mobile Unit | Nova Scotia Health

Information and promotion materials for community are available here Public Health Mobile Unit | Information and Wellness Portal

For more information, contact PHMobileUnit@nshealth.ca


Nova Scotia Health began responding to COVID-19 early in 2020. Within and across public health, staff and leadership were involved continually, responding, innovating, and supporting the pandemic. A key to Nova Scotia’s approach was consistent development of innovations and responses that contributed to the emergency pandemic response. The Public Health Mobile Unit (PHMU), launched in December 2020, was one of these innovations. Focused on COVID-19 testing initially, the work expanded to include supporting public health’s COVID-19 response with immunization, community rapid testing, negative results and navigating community to COVID-19 resources.

In 2022, PHMU identified the need to evaluate its implementation and understand process improvements. Partnering with Nova Scotia Health’s Research and Innovation, the PHMU explored, reflected, and identified areas of strength and opportunities. Taking these evaluation lessons learned from the development, implementation and impact on community also led to actioning an engagement strategy in 2023. An engagement initiative was vital to listen, collaborate with community, inform, and reflect with current stakeholders. PHMU collaborated with Nova Scotia Health’s Engagement team to complete an engagement and listening initiative.

The evaluation and engagement provide understanding to proactively considering the needs and assets of moving forward after COVID-19 response concludes. Maintaining the trust and confidence build through the pandemic response with community, hearing what worked well and what didn’t, enable the PHMU to plan effectively.

As we move forward, we are grateful to those who contributed to the evaluation and engagement. Thank you to everyone who provided insights on how the PHMU can play a role in our communities across Nova Scotia. The final reports are available on this page.

The Public Health Mobile Unit is continuing as a provincial public health program. The development of a refreshed Public Health Mobile Unit Community Response Program was identified as a Public Health transformation priority to support Action for Health in March 2024.

Public Health works with partners and communities to understand and improve the health of the population and reduce impact on the health system. The Public Health Mobile Unit (PHMU) is a provincial community-based program focused on reducing barriers and improving access to core public health services. As the program is being further developed, the PHMU was re-established in the fall 2024 to include system navigation, immunization and supports outbreak response, especially in places with less access to services. This work demonstrates how innovative approaches to healthcare delivery can improve equity and outcomes.

PHMU’s Goals

  • Reduce barriers and improve access to core public health services,
  • Strengthen customer service and engagement in the health system with Nova Scotians, while providing system navigation,
  • Respond to public health emergencies and support outbreak management,
  • Enhance integration within public health programs.

PHMU Work in Community 2024-2026: Expanding access to immunization – specifically for underserved, underrepresented populations or populations experiencing barriers to accessing programs/services –to improve coverage rates and reduce vaccine-preventable illnesses and hospitalizations. Mobile Unit continues working with health system and community partners to identify and respond to public health emergencies and deliver interventions and supports across communities. Mobile Unit work includes connecting and integrating across public health.

In March 2025, Public Health Mobile Unit and NSH Engagement hosted a Learning Health System Webinar sharing how engagement has helped the mobile unit program develop LHS in Action: The Evolution of Public Health Mobile Units in Nova Scotia

Learn where the Public Health Mobile Unit is in your community here Public Health Mobile Unit | Nova Scotia Health

Information and promotion materials for community are available here Public Health Mobile Unit | Information and Wellness Portal

For more information, contact PHMobileUnit@nshealth.ca


Page last updated: 17 Apr 2025, 07:38 AM