Mobile Clinic Ramps Up Health Care to Isolated Communities in California

Fulfilling the mission of Adventist Health to “live God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness, and hope” includes offering the best health care to people who live in Kern County, California, United States. What’s the best way to serve those who live in a rural or underserved community?

On October 20, 2021, Adventist Health and Chevron provided an answer to this question as they held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in McFarland to officially “power up” mobile primary care services in Kern County.

“This is an exciting milestone for Adventist Health,” Daniel Wolcott, president of Adventist Health Kern County, said. “Our mission calls us to find the best ways to serve the nearly one million residents living in Kern County so that we can improve the health and well-being of as many people as possible. The Adventist Health Mobile Clinic will expand our reach as we provide health, wholeness, and hope.”

With financial support from Chevron for the purchase of the specially equipped unit, the Adventist Health Mobile Clinic is designed to make access to care easier for remote communities, where lack of transportation, food insecurity, poverty, and lack of health insurance can be significant barriers to well-being.

“Health and safety are at the forefront of Chevron’s operations. We place the highest priority on the safety and health of our workforce and on the communities where we live and work,” Patty Canessa, Chevron public affairs manager, said. “It is a priority for us to put these words into action in the community by supporting inclusive health-care programs like the Adventist Health Mobile Clinic that expands access to basic community health-care services.”

The mobile care program will provide access to basic health care, including screenings, checkups, and immunizations to individuals and families in rural areas. Those served will include field workers, school groups, and businesses’ employees. The Adventist Health Mobile Clinic’s services extend to general family practice, pediatric care, physicals, limited labs, immunizations, behavioral health services, and specialty services via virtual care.

“Adventist Health has been a place where innovative health care blends with our belief that every life is sacred. Working together with community philanthropy partners, we are changing lives by putting our patients first and striving for nothing less than the best,” Beatris Sanders, president of the Adventist Health Bakersfield Foundation, said. “Our work to continue to bring the best health care to Kern County is always evolving and could not be possible without generous donors like Chevron.”

Additional Partnerships with Local Schools

The Adventist Health Mobile Clinic will work closely with the McFarland Unified School District and Bakersfield College, where the two organizations have partnered to offer college credit to students through a dual enrollment program. Students in McFarland will have access to school physicals and wellness exams.

“This is an exciting day because we get to help McFarland students and families access health care,” McFarland Superintendent Aaron Resendez said. “Thanks to Adventist Health, Chevron, and Kern Community College District, the clinic will help reduce our chronic absenteeism rate and ensure that students are healthy and in school, learning and thriving.”

Plans are also underway for the Adventist Health Mobile Clinic to serve as a platform for the training and development of medical assistants and Bakersfield College nursing students.

“It’s a win-win for the greater community,” Sonya Christian, Kern Community College District chancellor, said. “For years, Bakersfield College has been committed to reducing barriers and expanding education in rural areas like Delano and McFarland. On the one hand, the Adventist Health Mobile Clinic guarantees families will have access to high-quality local health care, and they can engage in opportunities to learn healthy lifestyle habits. On the other hand, the Adventist Health Mobile Clinic gives Bakersfield College nursing students another option to gain clinical experience. It really is a win all around for rural Kern County.”

The Adventist Health Mobile Clinic accepts most insurance plans. 

Chevron is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. Adventist Health is a faith-based, non-profit integrated health system serving more than 80 communities on the U.S.’s West Coast and Hawaii. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist heritage and values, Adventist Health provides care in hospitals, clinics, home care agencies, hospice agencies, and joint-venture retirement centers in rural and urban communities.

The original version of this story was posted on the Adventist Health news site.