Carle Health
Bridging Gaps in Care Through Mobile Health Clinic
Not all central Illinoisans have equal access to care, but the Carle Mobile Health Clinic is changing that.
The red van carries a dedicated team of healthcare providers, social workers and other staff to Champaign-Urbana, Rantoul, Bloomington and Danville—targeting communities with the most pronounced health disparities.
Thanks to donations from community members and Carle staff, the mobile clinic offers a variety of services, including:
- Full-service medical care for all ages;
- Laboratory testing;
- Chronic disease screening, treatment and education;
- School and sports physicals and immunizations;
- Social work services, if needed; and
- Links to primary care, specialty services and other community resources.
“The Mobile Health Clinic exists to serve our community and provide easy and convenient access to healthcare for the whole family,” said Kelly Parker, RN, manager of Mobile Health Services at Carle Health. “With the focus to help our community live their healthiest life and address the social determinants of health in our community, the Carle Mobile Health Clinic serves as that bridge to health services.”
Staff of the mobile clinic work closely with local churches, neighborhood associations and schools to promote health literacy, as well as trust in healthcare providers. These relationships proved critical in 2020 when Carle Health sought to widen access to the COVID-19 vaccine: The Mobile Health Clinic team emerged as key players, vaccinating over 400 people in just a few months.
Since launching in July 2018, the mobile clinic has delivered more than 4,000 hours of care to 3,500 community members.