HCHD's Mobile Clinic Visits Southwest Houston

Nothing beats convenience, says Debra Henderson. As one of the first residents of Southwest Houston to take advantage of the Harris County Hospital District's newest medical tool, the 35-year-old mother of two says she was lucky to find the brightly adorned 40-foot mobile clinic in the parking lot of Epiphany Episcopal Church near the intersection of South Gessner and Bissonnet.

"I've been wanting to get a medical check-up for my children and me," she says. "I just never really had time or the patience to go anywhere to get it done."

Recognizing that Henderson's case is not unique, the mobile clinic - TroubleShooting for Health: Southwest Houston Mobile Unit - was developed by the Hospital District, the Harris County Hospital District Foundation and several partners including the Epiphany Episcopal Church, St. Luke's Episcopal Health Charities, Harris County Health Facilities Development Corp. and the Houston Endowment Inc.

The mobile clinic, purchased mainly through private donations, has been an impressive sight on the streets of Southwest Houston since Feb. 28, 2000. The fully-equipped clinic on wheels has two main examination rooms and carries a four-person crew that includes a full-time nurse and an HCHD eligibility specialist for Gold Card registration. The Gold Card entitles all county residents to the medical services provided by the Hospital District's network of hospitals and neighborhood health centers. Since its start, the mobile clinic has made stops to neighborhood churches, businesses and apartment complexes. The stops are limited to Southwest Houston because the area has been found to be medically underserved. In addition, a majority of the residents live at or below the national poverty level and usually lack a means of getting to healthcare facilities. "There are large pockets of people in Southwest Houston that are falling through the cracks when it comes to getting needed healthcare," says Yesenia Garza, HCHD Outreach Health Educator.

Residents visiting the mobile clinic can receive medical check-ups including health screenings for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, tuberculosis, vision and hearing. Health educators will also be on hand to promote the benefits of maintaining good health. Other services available are well-woman screenings that may include Pap smear exams and referrals for mammography exams and information about the Hospital District's scope of medical services.

For information on the TroubleShooting mobile clinic, call 713-746-6486.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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