In a wide-ranging interview with Farber Specialty Vehicles, Dr. Phillip Surface, an orthopedic surgeon and political candidate currently running for state-senate in the state of West Virginia outlined a clear and urgent vision for rural healthcare in America: access must come before expansion.
Surface, who has spent nearly three decades practicing medicine in West Virginia, framed the issue not as a lack of quality care, but as a fundamental failure of proximity. “We have a great healthcare system in the state [and our country], but we do have an access problem,” he explained, citing geography, aging populations, and long travel times as persistent barriers to care.
The interview centered around a major upcoming shift in federal funding. Recent legislation associated with the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ out of Washington indicates approximately $50 billion in rural health funding is expected to be distributed to states, with a focus on improving access rather than building new facilities.
Surface emphasized that these funds are unlikely to prioritize traditional brick-and-mortar hospitals. Instead, the direction appears to be toward telehealth solutions and mobile healthcare delivery models. “The word on the street… is they’re going to work on telehealth and things that help improve access,” he said, while also noting that certain specialties, particularly those requiring physical examination, cannot rely solely on virtual care.
This distinction creates a clear opportunity for hybrid solutions, where mobile healthcare platforms bridge the gap between digital and in-person care.
Throughout the conversation, Surface repeatedly pointed to mobile medical units as a practical, scalable answer to rural healthcare challenges.
Using existing programs as examples, he referenced the success of mobile mammography initiatives like “Bonnie’s Bus,” which deliver diagnostic services directly to underserved populations. These programs demonstrate how bringing care to patients, rather than patients to care, can significantly expand reach and outcomes.
He extended that concept further, proposing a model where specialists themselves become mobile.
“We’ve been trying to bring patients to healthcare… but I think we can improve in bringing specialists to the patients,” Surface said.
In practical terms, he suggested this could mean rotating specialists, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, or other providers, through rural communities on scheduled intervals using mobile units. This approach avoids the high cost of permanent infrastructure while still delivering high-level care.
While funding and infrastructure dominate public conversation, Surface highlighted a less visible but equally critical issue: workforce development.
“A lot of people talk about recruiting physicians… but for every one of me that we recruit, we need 30 employees,” he explained.
From lab technicians to drivers, from nurses to maintenance staff, healthcare delivery depends on a broad support system. In rural areas, that system is often underdeveloped or strained.
Surface argued that long-term success depends on building this foundational workforce, not just increasing physician counts. This includes training programs, educational access, and incentives that make healthcare careers viable in rural regions.
One of the most pointed moments in the interview addressed how to ensure that incoming rural health funds are used effectively.
Surface acknowledged the complexity: “Healthcare… is full of unique situations and unique challenges,” he said, noting that there is no simple formula for accountability.
Instead, he proposed a collaborative approach involving physicians, patients, community leaders, and caregivers. The goal: identify which specialties are most needed, how often services should be delivered, and what delivery method..mobile, telehealth, or facility-based, makes the most sense.
He also stressed urgency. Unlike off-the-shelf purchases, mobile healthcare solutions require planning, design, and build time. “It’s not like we can just go off the shelf… it takes a while,” he noted.
Farber Specialty Vehicles’ own innovations align closely with these needs. Their hybrid generator system, designed for clinical vehicles, enables silent, emission-free operation with reduced maintenance and fuel use, supporting 80–100% battery-powered daily operation.
The company’s broader lineup reflects a similar philosophy. Farber offers custom-built mobile solutions across healthcare, emergency response, education, and government sectors, with a focus on blending functionality and patient comfort.
Surface’s views are grounded in extensive clinical experience. Over the course of his career, he estimates performing nearly 15,000 surgeries and participating in approximately 250,000 patient interactions.
That volume, he explained, provides a unique perspective on how healthcare challenges extend beyond clinical settings into everyday life, affecting employment, caregiving, and family stability. Surface’s message is clear: the future of rural healthcare is about reaching farther.
And as Surface put it, the impact of getting it right extends far beyond individual cases: “You might have the ability to quickly affect… a million or more residents” through the right policies and systems.