Rowan-Virtua SOM/RCSJ Mobile Recovery Program

The Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, in partnership with Rowan College of South Jersey, the Gloucester County Board of Commissioners, and the Gloucester County Division of Addiction Services, has established the Rowan-VirtuaSOM / RCSJ Mobile Recovery Program to deliver lifesaving, evidence-based harm reduction services directly to communities throughout Gloucester County.

Operating under the leadership of Dr. Richard Jermyn, Dean of Rowan-Virtua SOM, and through the Rowan-Virtua Neuromusculoskeletal Institute (NMI), this innovative initiative utilizes the county’s Wellness on Wheels (WOW) van along with a specially outfitted mobile hygiene trailer equipped with showers, restroom facilities, and laundry services. This infrastructure allows the team to reduce barriers to care—particularly in a county with limited public transportation and few walkable communities—by bringing services directly to individuals in need.

Comprehensive, Interdisciplinary Care

The Mobile Recovery Program is built on a data-driven, interdisciplinary model that integrates physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, peer recovery specialists, students, and data analysts. Together, the team provides accessible, compassionate, and evidence-based care designed to reduce overdose deaths and improve long-term recovery outcomes.

Core services include:

• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) / Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)
  On-site prescribing of FDA-approved medications such as buprenorphine and naltrexone to stabilize individuals, reduce cravings, prevent withdrawal, and significantly decrease overdose risk.
• Naloxone (Narcan) Distribution and Training
  Free naloxone distribution and overdose-response education for individuals, families, and community members to prevent fatal overdoses.
• Harm Reduction Services
  Provision of fentanyl and xylazine test strips, safer-use supplies, and practical education to reduce overdose risk and prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.
• Wound Care Services
  On-site wound assessment, cleaning, dressing changes, and infection-prevention education—particularly critical in addressing xylazine-associated wounds.
• Infectious Disease Prevention and Treatment
  HIV and Hepatitis C testing and referral, STI education and treatment, pregnancy testing, and prescribing of PEP and DoxyPEP when appropriate.
• Pregnancy testing
  Pregnancy testing and linkage to resources for care.
• Basic Medical and Behavioral Health Assessments
  Screening and referral to primary care, behavioral health services, and specialty treatment providers.
• Peer Counseling and Case Management
  Individual and group peer support, navigation of county-wide treatment resources, assistance with housing, benefits access, identification services, and long-term recovery planning.
• Mobile Hygiene and Wellness Services
  Access to showers, restroom facilities, and laundry services to restore dignity, promote health, and address social determinants of health.

Care that benefits the whole community

Community Impact and Prevention

Beyond direct clinical services, the program prioritizes prevention, education, and workforce development. Collaborative outreach efforts target schools, healthcare providers, veterans’ organizations, and community groups. Initiatives include opioid misuse awareness campaigns, youth education programming, safe prescribing education for clinicians, safe medication disposal expansion, and student-led social media outreach to engage vulnerable populations.

Through partnership with Rowan College of South Jersey, the program also supports educational and career pathways that foster long-term stability and recovery.

Advancing Equity, Reducing Stigma, Saving Lives

By meeting individuals where they are—both geographically and emotionally—the Mobile Recovery Program reduces stigma, enhances accessibility, decreases preventable emergency department utilization, and strengthens community safety. The program reflects Rowan-VirtuaSOM’s commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and person-centered care.

The Rowan-VirtuaSOM / RCSJ Mobile Recovery Program stands as a transformative model of how academic medicine, county leadership, and community partners can work together to confront the opioid crisis with compassion, clinical excellence, and measurable impact.