Nemours Children’s Hospital providers are going on the road to bring health care to uninsured children in Central Florida communities.
At select sites each Saturday through March 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., free preventative care physical examinations and health screenings for underserved children, age 17 and younger, will be in Osceola, Orange and Seminole counties, at partner organizations.
The Osceola location will be at the Community Hope Center in Kissimmee.
The organizations are identifying up to 20 children each week whose family income is less than or equal to 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines to receive well check visits from Nemours providers from throughout the health system, including participants in NCH’s pediatric residency program. The mobile clinic visits just one site each Saturday.
“We know that the pandemic has meant children may be falling behind in their vaccinations,” said Dr. Laura Chilcutt, a second-year pediatric resident at Nemours Children’s Hospital, who spearheaded this pilot program. “This mobile clinic is designed to bring health care out to the neediest in our community, where they live.”
Dr. Chilcutt had the idea to repurpose an underutilized vehicle at Nemours for this community initiative that will serve to take health care out to the greater community. This effort is one of many ways that Nemours Children’s Health System is addressing the issue of access and population health. At these well check visits, children will be screened for social issues that may impact their health, from homelessness and language difficulties to transportation and income barriers that would prevent children from getting to an appointment.
“Nemours Children’s Health System is diligently working to create a healthier population that meets the needs of the broader population, and that begins with children,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, senior vice president and chief population health officer of Nemours Children’s Health System. “Efforts like this mobile clinic bring care out to the neediest areas, helping elevate the health of our overall community.”
TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, is helping to fund the effort.
"TD is thrilled to support Nemours Children's Hospital by helping fund the pilot program for their mobile medical clinic. We believe this program can provide access to care for children across the Orlando area to ensure they are receiving the medical attention they need and deserve. We applaud Nemours for launching the pilot program and look forward to its success", said Todd O'Brien, senior vice president and southeast regional team lead of TD Bank's Institutional Healthcare Banking group.
Nemours volunteer health providers at the clinics, being scheduled each Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm, will conduct free checkups and screenings.
For more information and to register for an appointment, call 407-650-7715.
