5/22/1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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VNA Health Care on Wheels This 32 foot bluebird bus was made possible is 1992, thanks to the funding by IRC Hospital District with the goal of seeking out and serving isolated and underserved populations of our county. In 3 years, the mobile unit has served over 6,700 patients. The unit is equipped with examining rooms, special healthcare equipment, and a small computer and is staffed by Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners to provide urgent - care services to those they serve. The Healthcare on Wheels is driven to one of 7 sites in the county, sets up clinics of 3 - 7 hours duration and provides assessment and treatment to clients who come for care. Patients are screened for residency requirements and if possible are referred to other health care providers if they have Medicaid, Medicare, or a private physician. However, the majority of our apx. 2000 patients per year are low income with no health insurance at all. Over 50% of the patients seen in 1995-96 were 10 years of age or younger. Patients can be seen quickly, with little or no barriers to their access to care, at no charge, are treated by the ARNP, receive prescriptions, health teaching and follow-up, thus reducing the number of patients who would present themselves to the emergency room or the health department at a later stage in their illness, at a higher cost to our healthcare system. Access to care at the lowest cost is the key to the mobile unit's partnership with the community. The unit can easily moved to new sites as the needs of the community change. The Indian River Citrus League donates money to the VNA each year to provide medications for migrants. The mobile unit is on the road 70 hours a week and the schedule can be obtained by calling the VNA at 567-5760. MAY 229 1996 10 BOOK 9 FA(Jf.160