Clinic on wheels: AHN rolls out ob-gyn mobile health van
Allegheny Health Network (AHN) now has a mobile health van to increase access to obstetrics and gynecologic care to a number of underserved communities, including Charleroi.
The 37-foot ob/gyn mobile health clinic was unveiled Tuesday at the Carnegie Free Library of McKeesport.
The vehicle has 225 square feet of space, giving ample room for physicians, advanced practice providers and nurses to provide complete prenatal and gynecologic care.
“This is a resource that will significantly increase access to vital obstetrics and gynecologic care for women and birthing people,” said Dr. Marcia Klein-Patel, chair of AHN Women’s Institute. “We know that when women and expectant mothers lack access to proper health care, they face a higher risk of complications. In fact our country has some of the worst outcomes for maternal morbidity, especially for Black patient population, in the entire world. Statistics show there’s more work to be done. A big part of that undertaking is enhancing access to care and ob-gyn providers and resources to these families. Our providers will be able to offer complete and comprehensive ob-gyn services right from the vehicle. This is a full clinic. It just happens to have wheels.”
The mobile health clinic is overseen by the AHN Women’s Institute, in collaboration with First Steps and Beyond, a community-led organization that works to improve health outcomes for women, children and newborns.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the national maternal mortality rate is 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births – one of the highest rates for a developed country. For Black women, that number is 2.5 times higher at 69 deaths. According to the Allegheny County Health Department, those numbers are even higher among Black women in the county with 91 deaths per 100,000 live births.
With the ability to take the unit to various underserved communities, such as Charleroi, McKeesport, Clairton, Braddock and McKees Rocks, it makes for easier access for those who may not have the ability to get to where they need for proper care. No one will be turned away as options for financial assistance will be offered.
“It’s hard to get to us,” said Dr. Grace Ferguson, physician lead for the mobile health van. “We’re bringing it to them. We’re making it easier. Life is hard. Staying healthy shouldn’t be hard. This fully functional ob-gyn clinic on wheels is part of our initiative to decrease these barriers and bring the care to patients where they’re at.”
The clinic features an area for blood draw, bathroom, consultation area, exam room, and an ultrasound machine for both diagnostic care and prenatal scans.
The mobile health van was funded by a $950,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration.
“I’m really excited about engaging folks that we’ve had a hard time getting in for appointments,” said Jean Fitzgibbons, a nurse practitioner who will be one of the mobile unit’s drivers. “If I see you didn’t keep your appointment, I can say I’m going to be down the street from you next week. If people can just walk down the street, I think we’re really going to be able to remove barriers and get people in to care for them.”
The mobile unit will offer services beginning at the McKeesport Library in early March. Additional stops will be made throughout the year at other locations.
“We looked at what we call ob-gyn deserts where patients do have to travel for their prenatal care,” explained Joan Washburn, vice president of the AHN Women’s Institute. “Working with First Steps and Beyond, they identified locations for us. We just want to be able to take this to people.”
Washburn said the dates for when the mobile health clinic will be in the various communities are still being established, but did say it will be available at the McKeesport Library the first Tuesday of each month.
“To meet people where they’re at and remove barriers in access to health care is not going to solve all of our problems, but it is a positive step forward,” said Sara Innamorato, Allegheny County executive.