Centegra's mobile health clinic brings care to needy, underserved

Curious 4-year-old Cal Schneider watches as his dad, Lake in the Hills resident Kent Schneider, has his blood sugar checked by phlebotomist Karen Passias aboard the Centregra Wellness On The Move mobile unit in Crystal Lake Wednesday afternoon. The new vehicle, which will be deployed for wellness outreach and educational events, was introduced to the community with a brief dedication in front of the Crystal Lake Salvation Army Wednesday. Schneider and several other area residents took the opportunity to get their blood sugar and pressure checked during the event. "I read about it in the paper, and decided to come out and support the community," Schneider said. (Valerie Tobias photo)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

CRYSTAL LAKE – After two years of planning, Centegra’s new mobile health clinic is on the move.

Centegra Wellness on the Move made its public debut Wednesday at The Salvation Army Corps' Community Center at 290 W. Crystal Lake Ave. in Crystal Lake.

The $320,000 mobile clinic, paid for by the Centegra Hospital McHenry Auxiliary, is tucked inside a 36-foot-long, RV hybrid – with an expandable side, retractable canopy and a spacious interior that boasts an intake area, exam room, electrocardiogram unit, ultrasound equipment, audiology booth for hearing tests and two phlebotomy stations.

Services include flu shots, physicals, immunizations, blood draws, health education and a number of screenings – including those for heart disease, osteoporosis, periphery artery disease, stroke and hearing. Wednesday’s stop-over offered free blood pressure checks and diabetes screening.

“They’re mobile and you can’t beat free,” said Kent Schneider, a 42-year-old from Lake in the Hills who dropped in. “It’s a great service.”

Schneider, who has a family history of diabetes, admitted that he probably would have skipped the screening if not for this convenient opportunity. The clinic also is an important service for many who depend on the local Salvation Army presence, said Linda Hunter, community relations and development coordinator in McHenry County.

“Most of the people we have are underinsured or uninsured,” she said. “By enabling us to offer this service it gives them an opportunity to improve their health.”

Susan Milford, vice president of strategic marketing and planning for Centegra Health System, said of the estimated 45 million uninsured in the United States, nearly 40,000 live in McHenry County.

“It is a problem that affects all of us,” she said. “Fifty-seven million people in the U.S. have pre-diabetes.”

Diabetics do not produce enough insulin, which converts glucose to energy. This can lead to heart disease, blindness, nerve damage and kidney damage.

“We wanted to make a different access point for health care in our community,” said Michael Eesley, Centegra president and chief executive officer, at a short afternoon dedication ceremony. “We’re trying to keep people out of the hospital and keep people healthy.”

Toward that end, Centegra’s 3,500 employees donated a van full of non-perishable food items to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry and The Salvation Army.

Rosemary Morris, wellness coordinator for those employees, said Wellness on the Move would have three components:

• Corporate clients, which will pay for such things as hearing, stroke and heart screenings, as well as health education.

• Visits to community events like fairs and festivals.

• Free services to nonprofit agencies like Public Action to Deliver Shelter, local food pantries and The Salvation Army.

To book the mobile health van, call Centegra Health at 815-788-5888.

Wellness on the Move will be available to the public from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 20, during the grand opening gala of the Centegra Health Bridge fitness center, 10450 Algonquin Road in Huntley; and at The Salvation Army service extension offices in Woodstock, McHenry and Harvard. The first of those appointments tentatively is slated from 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Oct. 27 at 140 Newell St., Woodstock.