Eisenhower Health unveils medical clinic on wheels to reach underserved populations

Eisenhower Health's new medical clinic on wheels will soon hit the road and deliver medical services to the Coachella Valley's most underserved populations and hard-to-reach communities.

Eisenhower Health officials and benefactors gathered Monday afternoon at the Rancho Mirage hospital to celebrate the unveiling of its first mobile unit, which was supported by the Houston Family Foundation and spearheaded by Eisenhower Health’s Latinos in Philanthropy Advisory Board. The total cost for the unit and operations is approximately $450,000, according to hospital spokesperson Lee Rice.

Inside the mobile unit are two exam rooms with beds, a restroom, plenty of cabinets for storage and a refrigerator for medicine and possibly vaccines. An awning also stretches out from the van to provide shade, and the unit comes equipped with Wi-Fi and air conditioning.

Starting next week, Eisenhower’s Graduate Medical Education residents, working in collaboration with Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine, will provide medical services initially geared toward the homeless population. Cisneros said the van will head to one Palm Desert location where many unhoused people gather, and likely be utilized once a week to start with, before expanding its reach.

Dr. Victor Cisneros with the emergency medicine department said the unit will be able to address incision and drainage, infections and other common ailments among those who are unhoused. Medical providers on board will also be able to measure blood pressure, provide ultrasounds and more.

Cisneros added that Eisenhower Health will collaborate with community partners, such as FIND Food Bank Coachella Valley and Overflow 9:12, to address other social determinants of health like food insecurity, nutrition and hygiene.

Rep. Raul Ruiz attended the ribbon cutting and said it was a special moment for him, as it brought his roots of working at Eisenhower Health and Volunteers in Medicine together with his passion for taking care of vulnerable populations. Ruiz, also a physician, worked in a mobile unit during his pre-med days. He said they're a "fantastic" tool when people can't come to a building for medical care.

"One of the biggest barriers we have here is cost and access to care," Ruiz said. "So with this mobile clinic, that will provide high-quality affordable care for the homeless and the ones that are the hardest to reach, it's going to eliminate barriers and bring care to the people."

Eisenhower officials hope to add more mobile units in the future, as well as take this current one to more places, like the eastern Coachella Valley to connect with farmworker communities.

"If we can go to those communities and prevent certain disease or pathologies from progressing and provide some education with our collaborative partners, it will be very essential," Cisneros said.

The Desert Healthcare District, a local government agency, unveiled its first mobile unit in December 2022, which is operated by Desert Physicians Medical Group Health. In July, the district approved another mobile unit to further serve residents.

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Eisenhower Health unveils mobile medical unit to reach underserved