The Porter County Health Department is always looking for innovative ways to improve the health and well-being of its community members, and the department’s newest resource is truly incredible.
On Tuesday, May 9, the Porter County Health Department held a ribbon cutting at Central Park Plaza in Valparaiso to officially reveal its new mobile health clinic to the community. Community members clapped and cheered as health department leaders unveiled the mobile clinic, which is sure to change the narrative of health in Porter County for years to come.
The idea to build a mobile clinic came about during the pandemic when the Indiana Department of Health obtained several mobile clinics to help make COVID-19 testing and vaccines more accessible. Making sure people have access to healthcare has always been a big concern of the Porter County Health Department, and its team felt that a mobile clinic would be the perfect solution.
“Promoting and protecting the health and well-being of our community has always been our mission, and providing easier access to necessary health services and screenings will help us further that. There’s no better way to provide easier access to healthcare than going out into the community and providing education and health services at a convenient time and place,” said Porter County Health Department Administrator Sheila Paul.
The finished vehicle is 25 feet long and with all kinds of amazing features including a fully equipped exam room, medical refrigerator, blood draw chair, and even a small waiting room.
Nurses plan on using the clinic to travel Porter County and provide services such as immunizations, health screenings, and blood drawings.
Specialists also plan to use the new clinic to attend risk reduction events in the community and provide education on a variety of health topics such as food safety.
“The mobile clinic will be invaluable in improving access to healthcare for the population and help create a healthier Porter County,” said Paul.
The Porter County Health Department is ultimately very excited to see its vision for the clinic come to fruition and can’t wait to start going out into the community and making a difference in people’s lives.
“Seeing this clinic come to fruition is incredibly rewarding. We have put in a lot of time and effort to ensure the mobile clinic is operational and able to help the community in a variety of ways,” said Paul.
The community members who attended the ribbon-cutting were equally, if not more, excited. Porter County Councilman Greg Simms took to the stand to say a few words and couldn’t contain his happiness that such a wonderful addition has been made to our community.
“I have always said that we’re the best county in the state and it’s because of stuff like this. When Sheila mentioned the idea of a mobile health clinic it was a no-brainer. The attitude was immediately let’s do this and let’s lead the way so other communities can see what we’re doing and try to emulate us. I can’t speak highly enough about the Health Department for everything they’ve done. This is something very positive and special and I can’t wait to see this clinic drive around town and do wonderful things,” said Simms.
Of course, this wonderful new clinic wouldn’t be possible without the support of Porter County Health Department’s community partners. Paul and her team are grateful to everyone who helped them make their dream of a mobile clinic a reality.
“We would like to thank our Board of Health and County Council for seeing the benefit of this mobile clinic and approving the funds. We also want to thank The Valparaiso Independent Order of Oddfellows (IOOF) for funding the cost of our vehicle wrap. We hope to partner with the IOOF at future events. Lastly, we want to thank the Porter County Fair Board and Expo Center for providing safe storage of the mobile clinic,” said Paul.
Ultimately, the Porter County Health Department’s new mobile clinic is sure to have an immeasurable impact on the community’s well-being. The clinic has already started helping out Valparaiso University with the vaccination of its students, and it’s only a matter of time before the clinic starts making a difference all across the county.
For those wishing to see the new clinic in action, the clinic will be at Living Hope Community Church on May 26 for a homeless outreach service event.
To learn more about Porter County Government, visit https://www.porterco.org/.
