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In Jacksonville, a mobile clinic has taken to the streets, providing free health checkups for children under the age of 17. This initiative aims to help families reconnect with healthcare services and ensure that young ones hit their developmental milestones on time.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Positioned on the city’s Westside, this mobile health clinic is making a significant impact by bringing essential medical care straight to families. For many parents, the accessibility and timing offered by these mobile units have proven to be crucial.
The primary objective of this effort is to realign children’s healthcare routines that may have been disrupted. Attendees of the clinic express that the convenience of mobile clinics is a major advantage in achieving this.
Among those who benefited was Meosha Kennedy, who visited the clinic with her daughter. The event, organized by Sunshine Health, took place on Jacksonville’s Westside this past Tuesday.
“It was perfect timing; they let me schedule this. It was easy,” Kennedy remarked, underscoring the importance of the clinic’s accessibility and efficiency.
Kennedy says she received a call from Sunshine Health and decided to check it out.
“I was like you called at the right time because I’ve been meaning to look into changing her pediatrician… so we’re here now,” Kennedy told First Coast News.
Sunshine Health says missing milestone checkups can endanger a child’s health. The CDC says routine well-child visits can help identify the estimated 1 in 6 children who have a developmental disability.
That’s a big reason why this mobile clinic is now checking Medicaid members ages 17 and under for free.
President and CEO of Sunshine Health, Charlene Zein, says this is a way to get members connected to wellness and care.
“The reason we went the mobile unit route is because at any given time, about 45% of our members can’t be reached. Some of that is because of lack of updated contact information,” Zein said.
Zein tells First Coast News that the new mobile clinic is a way for members to be part of a primary care practice on a long-term basis. The mobile unit will travel throughout the state of Florida.
“So, meeting them where they are means showing up in their communities and putting this mobile unit in a place that’s easily accessible to them,” Zein said.
Parents can schedule an appointment for the mobile clinic by going on Sunshine Health’s website and scanning the QR code to register.
