The Health Wagon Receives Award from Virginia Israel Advisory Board

(Wise, Va.) – The Health Wagon, a non-profit health clinic serving Southwest Virginia, partnered with the Virginia Israel Advisory Board (VIAB) to improve healthcare access in remote Appalachian communities using Israeli technology.

The Health Wagon received the Commerce with All Nations Award from the VIAB for its successful deployment of donated Israeli telemedicine devices.

Key aspects of the partnership include:

• Telemedicine Deployment: The Health Wagon, in collaboration with the University of Virginia's Telemedicine program, deployed 50 TytoCare handheld telemedicine devices. The Health Wagon, one of the earliest adopters of telehealth, has been using remote patient monitoring for the past 30 years.
• Israeli Innovation: TytoCare is an Israeli-based company that provides remote medical examination tools. These devices allow healthcare providers to perform physical exams (e.g., checking heart, lungs, and throat) on patients in remote areas.
• Connectivity Solutions: To support these devices in areas with poor internet, the use of Starlink satellite technology ensures reliable communication between patients and providers.

The partnership is part of a broader effort by the VIAB to connect Israeli technological innovations with Virginia-based organizations to address local needs.

“This partnership represents what is possible when global innovation meets local commitment,” said Teresa Owens Tyson, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, President & CEO, The Health Wagon. “By combining Israeli telemedicine technology with trusted community-based care, we are breaking down geographic barriers and bringing high-quality healthcare directly to families in the most remote areas of Appalachia. We are deeply honored to receive the Commerce with All Nations Award and grateful to the Virginia Israel Advisory Board for helping us turn innovation into real-world impact.”

Dov Hoch, Executive Director of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board said, “It's an honor to be a part and partner in one of Health Wagon's uplifting undertakings that cares for the people in Central Appalachia. In addition to the 50 telemedicine devices and Starlink broadband access already providing care, we will arrange more gear through VIAB friends in 2026. Kudos to the entire Health Wagon team.”

“We are deeply honored by this recognition from the Virginia Israel Advisory Board,” said Paula Hill-Collins, DNP, FNP-BC, PCPNP-BC, FAANP, Vice-President/Chief Clinical Director, The Health Wagon. “At The Health Wagon, our work is guided by faith, service, and a commitment to healing communities—trusting that when we lead with compassion, God will continue to open doors for health and hope beyond borders.”

About VIAB: The Virginia Israel Advisory Board (VIAB) is a state agency dedicated to strengthening educational, cultural, and economic ties with Israel. In the realm of economic development, VIAB assists Israeli companies in establishing their U.S. operations in Virginia, leading to increased investments, tax revenues, and job creation within the Commonwealth. Additionally, VIAB facilitates access for Virginia companies to cutting-edge Israeli technology.

About the Health Wagon:

The Health Wagon is a nurse practitioner managed clinic that has been in existence

since 1980 which provides free medical, dental and vision health care services in Lee,

Scott, Wise, Dickenson, Buchanan, Washington and Russell Counties and Norton City. For

more information about The Health Wagon, please call 276-328-8850 or visit

www.thehealthwagon.org. If you would like to donate to the Health Wagon, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, please visit: www.thehealthwagon.org/donate.