In The News

New Mobile Health Clinic Offers Free,
Low-Cost Screenings for Valley Residents

HARLINGEN, June 2, 2006  – When was the last time you had your cholesterol or blood pressure checked, or had an assessment for your chances of developing diabetes or suffering a stroke? A new mobile health clinic from Valley Baptist Health System is making it convenient for hundreds of Valley residents to receive free and low-cost screenings that can save their life and improve their health.

The new 42-foot, bus-size mobile health clinic is making important health screenings more accessible to Valley residents and promoting cardiac fitness and health at stores, businesses, churches, RV parks and other locations in the Valley. In addition, Valley Baptist health personnel continue to provide free blood pressure and body composition analysis screenings inside the Harlingen Wal-Mart store at Expressway 77/83 and Lincoln Street, Mondays through Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m.

Services offered aboard the mobile clinic include stroke screenings, lipid screenings (cholesterol), liver function test, hemoglobin AIC, and bone mass density screening. Blood sugar and blood pressure checks, along with body fat analysis, are also available on the mobile clinic. By checking their cholesterol, blood pressure, and risk of diabetes, Valley residents can catch many health problems in the early stages – when treatment is more effective and less costly and intensive.

“We offer these community health screenings because we have seen how lives can be saved -- and the incredible difference that early detection and treatment can make in the lives of our patients,” said Shane Spees, Chief Executive Officer for Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen.

Dr. Michael Mohun, Chief of Emergency Medicine at VBMC-Harlingen, said prevention, education and screening efforts like those offered on the mobile health clinic make the Emergency Department’s job easier, as residents are often alerted to seek treatment before a stroke or heart problem reaches the most critical stages.

“People need to educate themselves about the signs and symptoms of heart disease and stroke and seek medical attention quickly,” Dr. Mohun said.

Carolyn Hutchinson, RN, BSN, Clinical Supervisor of Outreach Services for VBMC-Harlingen, noted that some residents may tend to procrastinate in checking their heart health. “We all need to remember that the sooner a problem is discovered and treatment begins, the better our chances are of surviving without disabilities and major problems,” Ms. Hutchinson said.

Ms. Hutchinson said the goal of the mobile health clinic effort is to empower residents to learn the risks of heart disease and stroke and to make healthy lifestyle changes -- for the good of their heart.

“The mobile clinic allows residents to check their liver function, heart rhythm, average three-month blood sugar level, cholesterol level, and bone mass density all at the same time -- at one convenient location and at an affordable price,” Ms. Hutchinson added.

One Valley resident -- who took advantage of the screenings while the mobile clinic was at the Wal-Mart in Port Isabel recently -- said the results and the Valley Baptist health personnel motivated her to start a diet in order to eat more balanced meals. The 61-year-old woman also started exercising by walking 20 minutes a day several times a week and is checking into the possibility of taking calcium as a way to help ward off osteoporosis.

“This is a very necessary service to the community … the facilities were clean, the ladies were very professional, and it was very inexpensive and some of it was free,” the Port Isabel resident added.

Some of the upcoming locations where free Stroke Screenings will be offered include:

* San Benito Wal-Mart on Friday, July 14
* Valley Baptist Health & Fitness Center (723 N 77 Sunshine Strip)
   on Friday, July 21
* Port Isabel Wal-Mart on Wednesday, July 26

Low-cost screenings -- which include a cholesterol screening for $20, liver function test for $10, hemoglobin A1C for $15, EKG for $20, and osteoporosis screening for $20 -- will be offered at:


* San Benito Wal-Mart on Wednesday, July 19
*Valley Baptist Health & Fitness Center (723 N 77 Sunshine Strip)
  Friday, July 21
* Port Isabel Wal-Mart on Friday, July 28

For a complete schedule, or to schedule an appointment for the mobile health clinic, call (956) 389-1115 Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Residents may also call Valley Baptist Health System’s new Health Line at 888-999-VBMC for information on diabetes education classes; support groups; yoga, childbirth education, and other classes offered by Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen and Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville.