Health center launches new mobile care unit
The mobile clinic cost
"This has been a long time coming," said
A lack of public transportation is a serious concern that comes up repeatedly in community needs assessments, and the new
The mobile health unit will be able to focus on primary and preventive care.
"When I opened up our small little shop, which has expanded over the years, I also had in the back of my mind the fact that one of the biggest problems that people have is transportation," Meyers said. "... So why not be able to provide a means to be able to drive to a location to where it's more convenient for them to be able to get services?"
The unit is expected to hit the road in mid-to-late October, and
"If I didn't have the support, it would sit here in the parking lot," Meyers said. "People have heard about it and have raised their hands and said, 'I have a need here, I have a need here.' We have a need here, and knowing that we're going to be able to help an awful lot of people makes my heart glad."
This is the first mobile health unit of its kind in
"There's a lot of counties in
One place the unit is planned to serve is The Well, a homeless day shelter in downtown
The Rev.
During The Well's first two years of operation, staff recorded an average of 13 deaths per year among the local homeless population, Culpepper said.
"They came to us sick," he said. "They were malnourished, they didn't have shoes, they didn't have access to health care unless somebody just happened to find them in a bad way and they called 911. And so they died."
Today, though, he said more resources have been made available, which has drastically improved lives.
The Well currently provides transportation to
"It just thrills me that you've got the ability to be mobile," he said.
"We're reaching out to various community organizations, churches, senior citizen centers -- anywhere where there might be the potential for congregates of people that are maybe getting services for one thing and may need health care services also," Meyers said.
Health care is a right, she said, and this new unit will aim to serve that purpose.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to be able to access health care and keep in mind that everyone should have a right to wellness and improving their health," Meyers said.
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