First mobile hi-tech clinic in Indiana to be licensed by the State Board of Health
The Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) Mishawaka Campus is home to the first mobile healthcare provider to be licensed by the Indiana State Board of Health.
On Aug. 15, the state-of-the-art, 40-foot-long Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) became fully operational. LifeLine Mobile Inc. (www.LifeLineMobile.com), an Ohio-based manufacturer of medical and dental vehicles, built the mobile unit, which houses a medical exam area, a mammography unit with auto-processor, plus an area for intake, information and health education.
After becoming licensed by the state, the process of accreditation for mammography took just over a month. “I wanted to offer this service first to our associates,” said Michelle Peters, SJRMC director of outreach services. “Two people tested positive for breast cancer in the first 100 screenings.”
The paperless office has arrived. Patient information and medical records are all input and kept in a computer database which makes life easier for those on board — and saves valuable space.
On-board is a nurse practitioner, a mammographer, and a driver who is in charge of intake procedures. In addition to the three-person team, a nurse meets the mobile clinic at its destination site to provide free patient education and minor screenings.
However, the clinic does not, in most cases, provide free services. Payment for service is based on individual circumstance. Like its parent organization, the mobile unit follows the same intake procedures as any of Saint Joseph’s fixed-site clinics. Patients fill out (virtual) paperwork, and are later required to submit supporting documentation.
Planning
“We first discussed the idea to deliver mobile medical services six years ago. But then we didn’t have the time to do adequate planning. We were not ready — yet,” said Peters.
Planning began in earnest three years ago with an extensive needs assessment in four local counties. “We found significant lack of access to healthcare. In a number of communities there were no physicians,” said Peters. The study also highlighted the need for medication assistance, and transportation to healthcare facilities.
The first step was to partner with area cancer programs, women’s health services, and other groups with whom the hospital had existing relationships with. “Trust is an issue in the patient population,” said Peters. “Working with organizations that are familiar to the community members makes them more accepting of the new clinic-on-wheels.”
Building on what works
Health fairs have been a great success for Saint Joseph’s community outreach effort. Instead of trying to attract people from other locations to the health fair, the focus is on those in the immediate neighborhood. The MMU is the natural next step in expanding the service to more neighborhoods.
Choosing the vehicle
After research on the Internet and seeing a converted bus model, the outreach team decided upon LifeLine Mobile because the interior was identical to a professional medical facility.
“LifeLine struck a good balance between letting us design the interior space the way we wanted it, and their advice on what would work, what wouldn’t, and why. They sent us some great promotional and educational material. And what’s more, they gave us a list of LifeLine owners to call — and we did call them,” saidPeters.
It was consistent enthusiasm of LifeLine vehicle owners that made the choice obvious for Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center.
“LifeLine is quick to respond, even after the sale,” said Peters. “The mammogram unit wasn’t lined up the way the bio-med people needed it to be. LifeLine stopped everything they were doing and took care of us right away. They took it apart and reconfigured it and got it done in just a day. We were impressed.”
The Future
Future plans are to have residents do rotations on the MMU. It is the organization’s hope that it will eventually be funded by graduate medical education grants from the Family Medicine Center.
cr @ October 9, 2006