Health Care District of Palm Beach County Unveils New Mobile Health Clinic at Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The Health Care District of Palm Beach County unveiled its new 38-foot, custom-built primary care clinic-on-wheels at a ribbon-cutting ceremony August 30, 2018 at the Edward J. Healey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Riviera Beach. Community and health care leaders along with advocates for the homeless toured the technologically advanced vehicle, operated by the District’s C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics. The Mobile Health Clinic is hitting the road to deliver medical and behavioral health services to the county’s chronically homeless and other underserved adult patients.
"The Health Care District recognized a health care need in our community and is proud to initiate this innovative strategy in delivering patient care,” said Brian R. Lohmann, Chair of the Health Care District Board of Commissioners and a featured speaker at the event. “The Mobile Health Clinic is scheduling visits to centers throughout the county that serve the homeless and other vulnerable populations.”
The Mobile Health Clinic is staffed by an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Registered Nurse and a driver who also registers patients. The medical staff provides a range of primary care and preventative services like physicals, screenings for diabetes and colorectal cancer, and behavioral health. The project opens the door for the Brumback Clinics’ medical staff to improve the health of those in need who do not traditionally visit the clinics.
“This initiative expands access to preventive care for individuals who often delay treatment,” said Darcy J. Davis, the Health Care District’s Chief Executive Officer and event speaker. “By not proactively seeking health care, their conditions often escalate and they find themselves in and out of emergency rooms.”
In her remarks, Belma Andrić, MD, MPH, the Health Care District’s Chief Medical Officer and Vice President and Executive Director of Clinic Services said, “People who are homeless have significantly higher morbidity and mortality rates than those who are sheltered. The cost of treatment is also more expensive the more acute the conditions become, especially for emergency care. We hope the Mobile Health Clinic helps reduce that cycle and improves health outcomes.”
The ADA-accessible vehicle, which was purchased with support from the Quantum Foundation, features two fully equipped exam rooms with one hydraulic exam bed for bariatric patients, a consultation area and bathroom, as well as a hydraulic wheelchair lift. The clinic-on-wheels has three television screens for patient education, a large retractable awning and access to the Health Care District’s Electronic Health Record System. The Mobile Health Clinic joins the Brumback Clinics’ network of nine Federally Qualified Health Center sites throughout the county serving adults and children with or without insurance.
Event speakers also included Nancy Bolton, Assistant County Administrator for Palm Beach County and Shannon Hawkins, Director of Community Engagement for the Quantum Foundation. Staff Captain Jeremy Hurd with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue delivered the invocation. Among the attendees were Todd Bonlarran, Assistant County Administrator for Palm Beach County; Shawn Hall, Regional Director for U.S. Senator Bill Nelson; Dan Liftman, Staff Assistant to U.S. Congressman Alcee Hastings; Bessie Brown, Chair of the C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics Board; Frances Navarro, C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics Board Member, David Kendle, C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics Board Member; Donna Mulholland, Chair of the Quantum Foundation Board; Alex Kramer, St. George’s Episcopal Church Board Member and Dinah Washam, St. George’s Episcopal Church Board Member.
Read more in the September 5, 2018 Palm Beach Post article.