Photo by West Virginia Health Right .
Mobile Missions
Health Care on Wheels
PAIGE UDERMANN
Health care in West Virginia has grown wheels and taken to the winding mountain roads to bring essential care to those who need it most . Innovative organizations are delivering health care through mobile units , bridging a crucial gap for patients who might otherwise struggle to access care .
Whether facing challenges like being uninsured , lacking transportation , living in rural areas or not being able to take time off work , the harsh reality in West Virginia is that many citizens face a barrier to receiving proper medical care . Mobile units are helping overcome these obstacles and making health care more accessible throughout the state . One institution leading the charge is Rainelle Medical Center , which is successfully mobilizing the center ’ s medical care .
“ Rainelle Medical Center is committed to serving medically unserved and underserved populations within the
Photo by Rainelle Medical Center . rural communities of Greenbrier , Fayette and Summers counties ,” says Kristi Atha-Rader , CEO of Rainelle Medical Center . “ Many of our patients experience financial and transportation barriers to receiving health care . We recognized both the needs and barriers and decided to meet our patients where they are by offering quality and affordable health care on a mobile unit .”
Rainelle Medical Center provides primary and urgent care to students , teachers and community members . This includes services such as annual exams , physicals and laboratory testing . The center is proud of its Mobile Access Care Center and the team providing excellent care to its schools and communities .
“ Many of the patients we see may otherwise go medically unserved ,” Terra Skaggs , school-based and community relations director for Rainelle Medical Center , says . “ Our mobile health center is increasing patient access to urgent , follow-up and routine health care , which leads to improved chronic care management , such as diabetes and high blood pressure . During appointments with our patients , our health care team provides the patients with friendly and understandable education on health conditions , lifestyle , nutrition and physical activity to assist them in improving and maintaining good health .”
West Virginia Health Right is also changing health outcomes through its mobile dental unit , providing free care since 2017 to thousands of West Virginians in McDowell , Logan , Boone , Roane , Harrison and Clay counties .
“ West Virginians have long struggled with poor oral health heightened by the challenges of poverty , provider shortages and geography ,” says Angie Settle , DNP , APRN , BC , FNP , CEO of West Virginia Health Right . “ It ’ s imperative to mobilize dental care to reach those in need where they are in rural West Virginia , especially those who are uninsured or underinsured . If we want our people to be healthy , employed and successful for generations to come , good oral health is a huge component of that story .”
Settle explains that oral health trends in West Virginia are improving , and she believes this program is helping to drive this positive transformation . Since its inception , the mobile clinic has made a vast impact .
“ Over the years , we have advanced the oral health of those we serve from just reactive care and treating
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE