HealthSigns - Spring 2009 - (Page 3)

The Washington On Wheels Mobile Health Clinic is staffed by Sherrie Kneebone (left), a nurse practitioner, and Connie Corral, W.O.W.’s medical assistant. For more information about the mobile clinic schedule or to make an appointment, please call 510-608-3203. O accessible health care for all join washington hospital in making the difference it weren’t for W.O.W. The truth is that it’s difficult to get insurance if you have a preexisting condition and that would leave many of these individuals without medical care.” with undiagnosed hearing or vision problems upon entering kindergarten. The services provided by the W.O.W. staff can mean the difference between health and vitality and uncontrolled, chronic illness. When Endona came to the Bay Area from the Philippines in 2002 to care for a family member, he found himself searching for full-time work and was soon unable to keep up with the cost of his medication. “When I arrived here, I volunteered at the Fremont Senior Center,” Endona explains. “I had been volunteering for about two years when the Washington On Wheels clinic started visiting there one Friday each month, and that’s how I found out about it. I received free screenings for my blood pressure and blood sugar.” Kneebone says that treating the most vulnerable segment of the population has many challenges, but to the W.O.W. staff, each success is worth it. “We find our reward in helping people feel better,” she says. Oscar Endona is one of many Washington On Wheels (W.O.W.) Mobile Health Clinic success stories. Through the services provided by Washington Hospital Healthcare System’s mobile health care clinic, Endona has received access to health care services that have helped him better manage his diabetes and high blood pressure— chronic health conditions that could have very easily have landed him in the emergency room, according to Sherrie Kneebone, FNP, W.O.W.’s family nurse practitioner. Traveling throughout the TriCity area, the W.O.W. Mobile Health Clinic sees an average of 3,000 patients a year and has been serving underinsured and uninsured residents in the community for almost six years. And demand for services has continued to grow steadily each year, especially as many struggle to find care without health insurance, Kneebone says. “Many of our patients are working, trying to find work or have lost their jobs,” she says. “We get all kinds of people whose main option for care would be the ER if VISIT WASHINGTON ON WHEELS ONLINE Services and locations where Washington On Wheels currently visits are listed at whhs.com/ community/wow. The Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation is appealing to members of the community interested in supporting the clinic’s future efforts. To find out how you can contribute to Washington On Wheel’s mission, call the foundation at 510-791-3428 or visit whhs.com, click “Giving to WHHS” and select “Our Foundation.” bridging the gap W.O.W. bridges that gap for residents who do not have health insurance and those without a regular physician. The mobile clinic travels to senior centers, churches, schools and community centers, serving not only those without insurance, but also local employers through Washington Hospital’s Well For Work program, as well as local schoolchildren. area’s youngest in need Last year, W.O.W. partnered with Fremont Unified School District’s (FUSD) State Preschool Program to provide free hearing and vision screenings to children from lowincome families. By serving at-risk students, Kneebone says, the W.O.W. staff was able to identify children who might have otherwise struggled Through the services provided by Washington On Wheels, Oscar Endona received access to health care services that have helped him better manage his diabetes and high blood pressure. SPRING 2009 3 http://www.whhs.com/community/wow http://www.whhs.com/community/wow http://www.whhs.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of HealthSigns - Spring 2009

Health Signs - Spring 2009
Contents
Community Calendar
Mobile Health Care
Targeted Treatment
Right Care, Right Now

HealthSigns - Spring 2009