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Health Matters: Providence St. Mary Medical Center | 3 Taking Care to the People A new mobile clinic brings services and convenience to rural communities. B e on the lookout! St. Mary High Desert Medical Group and Providence St. Mary Medical Center have rolled out a new service—literally—launching their first mobile medical clinic in June to better serve the High Desert's more remote communities. The project is part of the outpatient services offered by Providence. The Mobile Health Clinic is up and running in Helendale, making a monthly visit to the rural town of fewer than 6,000 people. Organizers hope to expand to Phelan, Piñon Hills and Lucerne Valley in the near future. "The expansion plan will be based on need. If we see there is a great response to this, we'll be out there as much as possible," says Brandy Gonzalez, director of operations for St. Mary High Desert Medical Group. Reynita Foltz, manager of clinic operations for the medical group, oversees the mobile clinic. The specially equipped RV is staffed with a nurse practitioner, a medical assistant and a care coordinator. Foltz says Helendale residents were extremely receptive to the idea from the beginning. "I'm proud to say that we are very supported by the Helendale Community Services District and the whole community. They helped us set up the clinic and put the word out in their newsletter and the local newspaper." FORMING A COMMUNITY BOND Foltz and her team at the medical group also maintain a close, friendly relationship with the residents by visiting twice a month to do activities with them. They spend this time at the local community center playing games and working on arts and crafts projects with seniors. The medical group is focusing its efforts on seniors because many Helendale residents are 65 or older. The mobile clinic offers most primary care services, including preventive care, immunizations, follow-up appointments, screenings and physical exams. For the time being, appointments are offered to established patients. "If we see that a Helendale resident is scheduling a doctor visit, we suggest our mobile clinic as an option. We're hoping the convenience of not having to drive 17 miles to Apple Valley will make their lives easier," explains Foltz. Foltz and Gonzalez see the mobile clinic as a perfect example of the Providence Promise: Know me, care for me, ease my way. "We want the patients to understand that the clinic can help them manage their care more regularly, particularly the seniors. Many of them live alone and have no one to take them to doctor appointments, so they are just skipping them. Our hope is that the mobile clinic meets people where they are so that they can receive the high-quality care they deserve," says Foltz. MOBILE CLINIC SERVICES • Physical exams • Lab testing • Vaccinations • Medication prescriptions • Treatment of minor illnesses and injuries • Screenings for common health issues • Management of chronic conditions Call 760-961-0971 for more information about the Mobile Health Clinic.

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