HealthMobile to bring health services to you

By RICHARD A. ROSS

	TRR photo by Richard A. Ross Ribbon cutting for the new HealthMobile launched on August 6 by Catskill Regional Medical Center. Pictured from left to right are Leni Binder, chair of the Sullivan County Legislature, Arthur L. Brien, President and CEO of the Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC), Senator John J. Bonacic, 42nd State Senatorial District, Kathy LaBuda, Sullivan County District 3 legislator, Rodney Gaebel, Sullivan County District 5 legislator, Richard Baum, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CRMC and Gloria Garfield, head of the CRMC Auxiliary. (Click for larger image)

HARRIS, NY —Accessing medical services in rural areas can be problematic for those who lack the transportation and the means to get themselves to doctors or to the hospital. Beginning on August 12 when its new HealthMobile rolls out to service Sullivan Country, Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC) has done something to change the dynamics of health care delivery.

The process of getting the funding, purchasing the bus-sized HealthMobile and planning the services it will deliver has taken more than a year, but the impressive bus-sized rolling medical office will provide a wide variety of services to people. These include mammography by a certified nurse practitioner, prescription and non-prescription lab work, and multi-screening lab testing including a series of 12 common tests for $29.95 available without a prescription. In addition, the HealthMobile will offer HIV testing and counseling. It will also offer a full range of adolescent treatment services, water testing, a smoking cessation program and a wide range of free health pamphlets.

CRMC is a not-for-profit medical institution and according to President and C.E.O Arthur Brien, the HealthMobile extends the hospital’s capabilities to offer services to those people who need them the most.

“Our mission, our vision and our values all direct themselves to providing the best possible patient care to the residents of Sullivan County. Not just those in Liberty and Monticello or those who can get to the hospital easily, but also to people who have difficulties in seeking out health care.”

	TRR photo by Richard A. Ross The HealthMobile will visit all areas of Sullivan County to bring a wide variety of medical services to those who lack the means or transportation to access those services from a centralized location. (Click for larger image)

According to Richard Baum, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Catskill Regional Medical Center, “the van is part of our general philosophy to serve people in outlying areas and to serve anyone who has trouble reaching a central location.”

Start-up operational funding for the HealthMobile includes $50,000 from New York State secured by Senator John Bonacic, $100,000 from the CRMC Auxiliary and $325,000 from Sullivan County.

“I’ll back a project like this anytime,” said Sullivan County Legislative Chairlady Leni Binder.

Senator Bonacic was on hand for the ribbon cutting and said “I look at this as a medical office.”

George Osmun of the CRMC Radiology Department is the operations manager of the HealthMobile. It is coordinated by Laurie Lewis of CRMC and the HealthMobile staff includes phlebotomist Lisa Fox and nurse practitioner Kathy O’Mara.

On August 9, the HealthMobile was on view at the annual Callicoon Health Fair held at the Grover Herman Division of CRMC. It will be stationed at the Grover Herman Hospital on August 12 and August 19.

The HealthMobile will be on location at the Mamakating Family Health Center in Wurtsboro, NY on August 14 and 21.

For additional information about the HealthMobile’s schedule and services, call CRMC at 845/794-3300, ext. 2929.