The Vanderburgh County Health Department has cut a ribbon on its new mobile health clinic. WNIN’s John Gibson was there:
The Health Department’s Dr. Robert Spear says the customized Ford panel truck will improve outreach:
"We can take this to schools, we can address the homeless population, and we can park it anywhere that we want and just give it a good enough notice what we're doing and what we're providing at the time."
Health Department nurse Ashley Libbert is ready to use the vehicle:
"Starting out, our mobile clinic will allow us to provide efficient and confidential primary prevention services such as vaccinations for adults and pediatrics, serving those with Medicaid, uninsured, and some private insurances."
Department Director Joe Gries says mobility was important during the early days of the pandemic:
"The mayor helped us with providing some city buses that we took out as well. So, kind of also added to the idea. One of her nurses, Erin Reis, has had this idea for a long time."
The agency used a grant to purchase the mobile clinic for $180,000.