Providence presents
Four-wheeled clinic coming soon

Photos by Esther K. Smith
Bright colors adorn the mobile health unit, which was on display at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital during a special dedication ceremony Sept. 18.

By ESTHER K. SMITH
News staff writer
October 7, 2006

It may not be a doctor’s house call, but it’s the next best thing.

Very soon, there will be help for the uninsured and under-served members of Hood River County, when Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital’s new mobile health unit, “Mission in Motion,” makes its first forays into the rural areas.

The mobile health unit — which began its life as a recreational vehicle in Arizona before being purchased on eBay by PHRMH — will provide non-emergency care and referrals to participating health care providers for anyone who needs health care but has limited or no access to it.

“We will not be doing much work in Hood River,” said the project’s manager, Maria Elena Castro of PHRMH. “We’re aiming mostly at rural areas outside of the city and those without insurance.”

The mobile health unit will visit different areas — specifically Parkdale, Odell, Pine Grove and Cascade Locks — on different days, with set hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be no appointments; it will run on a first come, first served basis.

Besides taking care of the urgent health care needs of the most vulnerable section of the community, the mobile health unit will serve as an educational resource center with the goal of aiding prevention.

Medical Assistant Silvia Ochoa, above, will be one of the unit’s two staff members.

Medical Assistant Silvia Ochoa and Driver Moses Quezada will staff the unit. Those needing more care than the unit can provide (X-rays, tests, etc.) will be referred to La Clinica del Carino, where Physician’s Assistants Jenny Harris, Melissa Arndt and Paul Moyer will provide medical care. Brenda Colfelt, M.D., is the project’s medical director.

Due to the limited space inside the mobile clinic, only one person will be seen at a time; the rest of the people will wait in a classroom or office area — not outside.

“So we’re hooking up with the school district, city halls, fire houses, etc.,” Castro said. The plan is to work in cooperation with the host sites, using restrooms, classrooms or offices (as waiting areas) and electricity. The unit will only be able to be sited at schools during non-school hours.

Patients won’t be given forms to fill out — information will be taken by the medical assistant and each person will have a personal health record that can be printed up and taken to a referral appointment, if necessary.

The mobile health unit will be able to provide almost any service you can get in a regular doctor’s office, but there are a few important things to remember: The unit will have limited laboratory services and no X-ray service; it cannot provide emergency care, surgeries or specialized or prenatal care. And there will never be narcotic drugs on board. Any prescriptions written will be non-refillable.

“We won’t be doing vaccinations, except maybe tetanus for lacerations, or possibly flu,” Castro said.

At least for now, no fees or donations will be asked of the patients. “We’re going to wing it,” Castro said. “If we see abuse, we’ll take the appropriate action.

The schedule is still being worked out, but as soon as it is ready it will be posted on the hospital’s Web site, www.providence.org/hoodriver, and in various businesses and agencies.

The Providence Mobile Health Unit will also be available for special events. If you are organizing a special community event and are interested in having the mobile health unit present or you would like more information, contact Castro at 387-6318 or maria.castro@providence.org.