Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Available To Kosciusko County
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. (Photos provided)
WARSAW — Kosciusko County is receiving a mobile healthcare program for underserved children up to five years old. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is a partnership between Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Indiana and Parkview Health. The program was introduced to Kosciusko County on Tuesday, July 10.
Infant mortality continues to be higher in northeast Indiana than the rest of the state and much higher than the rest of the country. Sixty percent of uninsured children do not visit a physician’s office during the year and more than half have no care from a provider of any type.
Inside the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile will deliver care directly to the children who need it most, right in their neighborhoods. There is no charge to families without insurance for the medical care they receive on the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.
Services provided include:
- Primary care, well-child visits and developmental screening
- Hearing
- Vision
- Vaccination
- Point of care testing
- Strep test
- Influenza screening
- Lead screening
- Fluoride treatment
- Health and safety education
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile will visit Warsaw at least two days a month. It will be stationed at the Kmart parking lot, 3350 Lake City Highway, Warsaw. Residents can make an appointment ahead of time by calling (877) 774-8632 or walk-in for services. The rotating schedule will be available at a later date here.
“Ronald McDonald House Charities and Parkview Health both believe in the power of serving the community and ensuring that all children have an equal opportunity to receive quality healthcare. It is because of this shared mission that our organizations have partnered to reach medically underserved children in Northeast Indiana,” states Jen Veatch, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Indiana.
“This joint venture between Parkview and the Ronald McDonald House Charities is another example of our commitment to serve our communities in a meaningful way,” said Scott Gabriel, president of Parkview Whitley/Parkview Warsaw. “We’re proud to be a part of this service and look forward to making a positive impact on the health of children in Whitley and Kosciusko counties.”
Pediatrician Tony GiaQuinta, Parkview Physicians Group, has a specific vision for this new program.
“The goal of the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is to drive children into a stable, high-quality medical home. Why is this important? The American Academy of Pediatrics defines the medical home as a model of care that is ‘accessible, family-centered, continuous, comprehensive, coordinated, compassionate and culturally effective’ and promotes it as the source of primary care for all children. We know that children with a stable medical home are less likely to seek expensive and inappropriate emergency room visits, and more likely to receive important preventative services such as developmental screening and on time vaccinations. Importantly, the medical home promotes healthy behaviors such as family reading, dental hygiene, helmet use, and decreased screen time. By investing in their health, we give northeast Indiana’s children the opportunity to succeed in all things, benefiting their future and our commonwealth. “
Pediatrician Duane Hougendobler, Parkview Physicians Group, agrees.
“The pediatricians of Parkview Physicians Group have a passion around improving health care for all children in our area, and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile will allow us to care for those who do not have access to the health care system. The care mobile will provide a safe and non-threatening environment for children to receive important growth and development exams and immunizations.”
All Ronald McDonald Care Mobile services are provided in a 40-foot long, 8-foot wide vehicle built specifically for delivering pediatric health care services. Each vehicle, which ultimately costs around $500,000 to get on the road, includes two patient examination rooms, a laboratory and reception and medical records areas.
