Since its inception, the Welsh Mountain Health Center (now Union Community Care), 584 Springville Road, New Holland, has sought to reach members of the community with needed health care.

Starting in April, the new Union Community Care Mobile Care Team is continuing toward that goal by bringing health care literally to the doorsteps of members of the Plain community from East Earl and Morgantown to Quarryville to Mount Joy. The team, made up of medical provider Janine Muir and medical assistant Heather Parmer, journeys out each Wednesday to homes in specific areas based on a list of requests Parmer has compiled. A circuit of visits is completed every eight weeks. In addition to the aforementioned locations, the unit visits homes in Ephrata, Lititz, Terre Hill, New Holland, Coatesville, Honey Brook, Narvon, Parkesburg, Gap, and Kinzers.

Muir noted that Union has responded to the fact that transportation is a known barrier to care and that while telehealth can help, mobile units bring providers directly to those in need. "I think our administration has amazing idea generators, but it's also listening to the community," she pointed out, adding that providing mobile care enhances the Plain Healthy program that was already in place.

"The Mobile Care Team is working to implement the Plain Healthy program, that serves the Plain population in Lancaster County," said Muir, noting that the program includes administering vaccines and performing well child checks, as well as making house calls.

According to Parmer, members of the Plain community contact her through a special number. Parmer coordinates the best time for a visit and the amount of time necessary to provide services before setting an appointment. "I plot on a map and calculate how long it will take to get there, and I call and tell them what time we will be there at their house," she explained.

Looking ahead, Muir hopes to see the unit taking part in area gatherings. "We have these community events coming," said Muir, who noted that at a fair or festival, the team may focus on lead testing, blood pressure checks, or glucose testing.

Nicole Specht, Union Community Care's chief communications officer, noted that putting the unit on the road is just the beginning. "The way we are mobilizing health care is going to evolve," she stated, adding that mapping out the locations of those in need and listening to community members will spearhead the next steps. "(We plan on) having the freedom and flexibility to meet folks where they are (and provide care) with people they trust," she said.

While the mobile unit puts medical services on wheels, the feel for a patient entering the customized van is not unlike that of walking into a medical exam room. "It pretty much has everything we would need to be able to provide care," said Muir of the unit, which includes a chair, an exam table, a sink, and the instruments and medicine necessary for the services the team plans to provide that day. There is also a television for education purposes or a virtual connection if necessary.

Muir noted that the mobile unit represents a new concept in health care by expanding the original vision of the clinic. "The idea of reaching under-resourced people has not changed," she said. "It's just taking that mission and making it bigger."

A blog post about the team may be found at https://unioncommunitycare.org/blog. Information about the Plain Healthy program may be found at the same website under "Patient Care."