Mobile clinic will provide primary care services in Camden and Waldron
Hillsdale Hospital is introducing a mobile rural health clinic (RHC) to provide primary care services to the most rural parts of Hillsdale County. Starting October 3, the clinic will improve healthcare access in Camden and Waldron, two communities that struggle with barriers like transportation and internet access, which prevent many residents from receiving timely care.
The Hillsdale Health and Wellness Mobile Unit will be open every Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., alternating between Camden and Waldron. On the first and third Fridays of the month, it will be at Camden United Methodist Church, 205 S. Main St., Camden, MI 49232, and on the second and fourth Fridays of the month, at Waldron District Library, 107 Main St. Waldron, MI 49288. Patients can now make appointments by calling Hillsdale Health and Wellness at (517) 437-7040 and asking to be seen at the mobile clinic.
“The Hillsdale Health & Wellness Unit is a welcome addition to the range of outpatient care services already offered by Hillsdale Hospital,” said Lindsey Crouch, director of outpatient clinics, home care and Hillsdale Medical Supply. “Regardless of a patient’s ability to travel to our outpatient offices, they deserve access to the high standard of care that our hospital is known for. We are incredibly excited to bring that care directly to their neighborhood.”
Cherie Gillespie, family nurse practitioner, and her medical assistant will provide outpatient primary care services in the mobile RHC, including but not limited to preventative care, laboratory services, select vaccinations, disease screenings and specialist referrals.
“Hillsdale Hospital is here to serve the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Jeremiah J. Hodshire, president and chief executive officer of Hillsdale Hospital. “When patients can’t get to us, we will take the care to them. This RHC is a vital step in the direction of reaching our more isolated patients with the care they need.”
More than one-third of small-town Michiganders are covered by Medicaid, and these rural areas are the most vulnerable to healthcare disparities and limited access to healthcare. As hospitals and healthcare providers across the country anticipate deep cuts to Medicaid funding and added administrative burden to redetermination and reporting requirements, it’s more important than ever to ensure communities like Hillsdale have the healthcare resources they need. Rural health clinics help rural areas receive the services they need from their local hospital in their own neighborhood.
“With the looming federal cuts to Medicaid, we need to be ready to guide our patients through the changes that apply directly to their coverage,” said Hodshire. “Through channels like our mobile rural health clinic and other community resources, we’ll help navigate eligible recipients through the process of enrollment and redetermination, ensuring every qualifying community member has the access to health insurance they need.”
Learn more about the Hillsdale Health and Wellness Mobile Unit at hillsdalehospital.com/mobile or call (517) 437-7040 to make an appointment.
