Mobile health unit in Webster Co. aims to go beyond flu shots, foster community connections
People who live in Webster County have a new option when it comes to receiving preventative care and vaccinations: The health unit's mobile program.
The small RV serves six communities three days a week in an effort to address health disparities in rural areas, and began operation in early August, according to Scott Allen, Webster County Health Unit administrator.
"When people think of health disparities, your mind goes to an inner city, your mind goes to a very urban area, your mind goes to people of different colors. Webster County, Missouri, doesn’t have that," Allen said. Instead, the county's population is about 15 percent Amish. Others are living on fixed incomes, and "sometimes have to make the decision of 'Do I spend money to put food on my table, or do I spend money to go see a doctor in Springfield, get labs drawn and spend the gas money in Springfield?'"
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The program is funded by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' Local Public Health Disparities Initiative, which is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Allen hopes that the initiative can help reduce those choices, and provide intermediate care for people who otherwise wouldn't be able to receive it.
"It’s nothing real fancy — nothing to do surgery in, nothing to do dental implants in. For what we need and what the rural communities need, that was our goal. To start getting back into the basics of public health," Allen said.
The mobile unit visits Rogersville, Diggins, Seymour, Rader, Elkland and Niangua on a rotating schedule, so each location gets two visits a month.
On a muggy Wednesday in August, the unit was parked on the only road in and out of the small unincorporated community of Rader — a spot chosen by design, according to Lisa Tindall, nurse supervisor.
"Right on the corner here, you have to pass it to go one way or the other," Tindall said.
The unit saw about 10 people that day who would have otherwise had to make the trek out to Marshfield.
Tindall and Stephanie Davis, an LPN and health educator, are members of Rader's community. Tindall has especially deep roots, since she's related to the Raders who founded the place. To Allen, it was important that those who staff the unit have a connection to the places they work.
"I know success, for this program, is going to be when one of our crews calls in and says 'We’re going to be late today because we’re helping the ladies quilt after we get done,'" Allen said. " ... It sounds kinda corny, but when you look at the response we have, we really are making an impact in this community in such a short period of time."
At the mobile health unit, people can get COVID-19 test kits, well water test kits, medicine disposal pouches, blood pressure screenings, blood sugar checks, nursing consultations, immunizations and some lab work.
Tindall shared a story about a family member in Rader who has cancer and has to arrange for travel to Springfield for lab work.
"But here, he's two miles down the road and he’ll be able to run down to us and have it done so much easier without the trip or the gas money. I think it’s so great because so many people don’t even have that transportation that they need to get where they need to go," Tindall said.
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Rader resident Kathryn Langdon is excited to see people stopping by and word getting out about the unit, which she anticipates will benefit the elderly population in the area.
"I just think it’s awesome. The fact is that in this area we have a lot of elderly people," Langdon said. "We quilt down here with the church, and we have a lady that's 96, two that’s 94. This is good for this area, for all the elderly people."
During the time the health unit was parked, cars, trucks and even a 4-wheeler with a beagle tagging along passed by.
At one point, a car drove by, before the driver backed up and rolled down their window to chat with people receiving COVID-19 boosters and the program employees.
Allen pointed to the scene, smiling.
"That's what I want to see. That's success."
Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Webster Co. brings health care to rural communities
