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Health Equity Starts at Home

By Dr. Kristin Collins, Pediatric Medical Director, DocGo’s Affiliated Clinical Practice Group

Every child deserves a chance to thrive, and that starts with access to high-quality healthcare. Yet, for too many families, logistical barriers such as transportation challenges, rigid work schedules, or the need for childcare prevent children from receiving basic preventive care. In the U.S., 4% of children—around 3 million—miss healthcare appointments each year due to a lack of transportation, including 9% of children in families earning less than $50,000. Thirty-one percent later visit a hospital emergency department for the health condition associated with that missed appointment.

As a pediatrician with over 15 years of experience, I have witnessed firsthand how these obstacles disproportionately affect underserved communities, perpetuating cycles of poor health. That is why I am so passionate about health equity—and why I believe it starts at home.

Health equity, to me, means ensuring that every child, regardless of their socioeconomic status, race, or where they live, has access to the care they need to achieve optimal health. It’s not just about addressing illness but proactively preventing it. This includes regular well-child visits, vaccines, and early screenings—services that are often taken for granted but are foundational to a child’s long-term health and development. However, achieving equity requires more than good intentions. It demands innovative solutions that break down barriers and meet families where they are—sometimes quite literally.

That’s where our Well-Child Visits program comes in. At DocGo, we have developed a model that delivers comprehensive preventive care directly to families’ doorsteps. Our in-home visits follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Preventive Care Guidelines, ensuring that children receive screenings, immunisations, and mental health assessments in the comfort of their own homes. By eliminating the need for families to travel to a clinic or rearrange their work schedules, we remove significant barriers that often keep children from getting the care they need.

Since the program launched last summer, we’ve conducted over 1,600 in-home well-child checks. That’s 1,600 children who might otherwise have missed critical preventive care. Families have told us how much they appreciate the convenience and flexibility of at-home care. For some, it’s a lifeline—the difference between their child receiving timely vaccines and screenings or going without. These moments remind me why we do this work.

Of course, our program is not a substitute for pediatric primary care. A trusted relationship with a primary care provider is irreplaceable, especially for monitoring growth and development over time. But programs like ours play a vital role in bridging care gaps. By providing catch-up vaccines, identifying overlooked health issues, and addressing social determinants of health, we help every child stay on track for a healthier future. Our ultimate goal is to guide families back to their pediatrician for continued care, reinforcing the long-term benefits of consistent healthcare engagement.

The success of this model underscores a simple but profound truth: when we make care more accessible, we create better health outcomes. By tailoring services to the needs of families—offering flexible scheduling, reducing logistical burdens, and building trust in underserved communities—we can level the playing field for children everywhere. Other programs and organisations can learn from this approach, applying it to different patient populations and areas of preventive care.

But beyond solving the organizational challenges, what excites me most as a pediatrician is the opportunity to make a real difference. By bringing care into the home, we are doing more than just addressing gaps in service—we are addressing inequities that have persisted for far too long.

Health equity isn’t just a goal; it’s a responsibility. And it starts with meeting families where they are, one home at a time.