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Effective immediately - No vaccines will be given on the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile without a shot record.
Medical Center Hospital has partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of the Southwest to bring the state-of-the-art Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program to our area. A medical clinic on wheels, the Care Mobile brings medical care and health information directly into local neighborhoods with unmet healthcare needs for ECISD students, siblings and their minor children up to the age of 18. The Odessa-based Care Mobile is the world's 31st Ronald McDonald Care Mobile and the third in Texas.
The Care Mobile will be on-site at Odessa College at 201 West University from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm during the summer months. The Care Mobile does close from noon to 1:00 pm for lunch. The Care Mobile will resume parking at ECISD schools after the 2010 school year begins.
The Care Mobile has an impact on the health of the community by providing education and health screenings at community events including health fairs, school programs and other local events. By making Care Mobile pediatric services accessible to underserved schools, churches and community centers, the outreach effort improves the health for thousands of area children who would otherwise receive little or no healthcare services. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile reduces reliance on expensive and inappropriate health sources, such as hospital emergency departments; provide continuity of care; heighten awareness of healthy lifestyles and safety; and help eligible families obtain government-assisted health insurance.
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile was designed and built specifically for the delivery of pediatric health care tailored to the Permian Basin area. The vehicle houses two patient examination rooms, a laboratory, a reception area and a medical records area. The healthcare team consists of a pediatric nurse practitioner, a pediatric nurse, a registration/billing specialist, and a pediatrician available for patient consultation.
The vehicle was granted to Medical Center Hospital by the Global Headquarters of Ronald McDonald House Charities. MCH is responsible for operations and staffing of the mobile clinic. RMHC of the Southwest will provide 20% of the annual operating costs; provide volunteer services; and select members of the Board of Directors and staff serve on an Advisory Committee composed of MCH and RMHC representatives as well as other community liaisons.
“Medical Center Hospital is proud to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Southwest and other local organizations, including Children’s Miracle Network and the Junior League of Odessa, Inc., in bringing this unique healthcare setting to our community. The Care Mobile will go directly into the child’s neighborhood, rather than the child having to be brought to the Hospital or a doctor’s office. This alone should improve access for the youngest of patients and be more convenient for their parents or caregivers,” said Bill Webster, Medical Center Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer.
For more information, contact: Amber Sweeney – MCH Communications/Marketing at (432) 640-1242 or Tamara R. Bavousett DNP, RN, C-PNP - Ronald McDonald Care Mobile at (432) 640-1713.
