Owensboro Health is taking its operations on the road with its Mobile Clinic, an initiative to offer patients more convenient healthcare options. The unit will rotate between multiple locations across the area each month.
Owensboro Health Vice President of Population Health Dr. Jim Tidwell said the clinic has been a year in the making. It was started after noticing that transportation is often the largest barrier to access to healthcare throughout the service area.
“This mobile unit was a way to literally meet people where they are,” Tidwell said.
The clinic will be stationed at the following locations on a set day of the month going forward:
- Boulware Mission – the first Tuesday of every month
- Owensboro-Daviess County Senior Center – the third Tuesday of every month
- New Life Church – the third Thursday of every month
The clinic will also be stationed at Hawesville’s Bill’s IGA and Lewisport’s Jumpin’ Jacks on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, respectively.
No appointments are required to use the clinic.
Tidwell said each location was planned specifically around events happening there. For example, on the third Thursday, Tidwell said, New Life Church hosts a donation day.
“So we thought about having a mobile clinic there on that day because it would allow people to come and receive food and healthcare services,” Tidwell said.
They also noted that the clinic will be in areas without a brick-and-mortar Owensboro Health location nearby to provide more access to those neighborhoods.
They plan to add more days to the schedule as the program develops to reach more service areas.
“I was in a meeting today and heard our CFO talking about our second unit already, and I thought, let’s get a few more dates under our belt and work out the kinks,” Tidwell said. “but “That is our intention.”
