Outreach conducted by the Department of Health has resulted in a variety of community members across the county who will be the unit’s first patients during the pilot program. Kingsley said he plans to send vehicles in every two weeks to provide care for residents of the northern county.

County staff are thrilled to have recently hired a nurse practitioner who can provide prescriptions.

For example, if an individual needs medicine for a minor illness, they can easily obtain it and avoid urgent care or emergency room visits.

“We could help increase access,” said Kingsley. “Our overall goal is that providing that care to individuals in small communities will help reduce the number of ER cases.”

Staff previously reported that some communities have high rates of not seeking medical care when they need it because of cost and accessibility.

During the pilot program, the unit will focus on District 4 before expanding. By seeing the vehicle at local events, you can expect to raise awareness of the services the vehicle provides.

Services include testing for blood sugar, cholesterol, hepatitis C, blood pressure, STDs, HIV, COVID-19 and flu. Immunizations are also handled by the mobile health unit and the resident is connected to her HIV, Hepatitis C, behavioral and mental health resources.

Kingsley said the mobile unit includes a small waiting room, a bathroom and an examination room. For privacy protection, there are entrances and exits at the front and back. His nine communities in the county are more than 30 miles away from medical services.

“Overall, we got everything we needed to meet these basic health needs,” Kingsley said of the vehicle.

Mobile health vans, paid for in part using American Rescue Plans Act funds received by the county, provide preventative care, education, and screening.

“This was District 4 money, but it needs to be the face of Mojave County for health and wellness,” said Gene Bishop, District 4 supervisor.