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County Approves Grant Money For Mobile Outreach Van

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Health Services plans to use an $80,000 grant from the Central Oregon Health Council to purchase a mobile clinic.

Clinical Services Manager Anne Kilty is excited for the van that will provide services to people unable to get to clinics in Redmond and Bend. “Some basic health screenings that could be useful out in the community: blood pressure checks, diabetes screenings. Our WIC team will be providing nutritional support, breastfeeding support, early dental intervention for pregnant and postpartum women and children up to the age of five. And then, our perinatal care team will be doing maternity case management services,” says Kilty, noting the county has been working towards an outreach van since before the pandemic. She hopes to park the van in different communities at places like libraries, where patients can rely on their presence.

Deschutes County Commissioners approved the awarding of the grant at Wednesday’s board meeting.

Kilty says patients may be more comfortable accessing the van for care rather than going to a clinic, “It’s really important that we reach out to people and communities that are not able to access the Bend and Redmond locations very easily. We know people have problems getting to the clinic; some people don’t have good transportation, don’t have resources to pay for gas, have childcare and work issues.”

The van should be purchased and ready for use by July 1st.

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