In order to provide effective healthcare services in hard-to-reach areas, a love for the work is necessary, according to Bennett, the Executive Director of Fetter Health. The organization operates five mobile units, including three medical and two dental units, that travel to communities in the Lowcountry where access to healthcare is limited. The MUSC Community Health Van also plays a vital role in increasing immunization rates against HPV by providing vaccines to young individuals who do not have insurance or are on Medicaid.
Fetter Health’s roving clinics are a cost-effective way to provide care to patients in hard-to-reach areas. However, telehealth has its limitations as it cannot replace the face-to-face interaction with a doctor in an office or on a bus, school or parking lot. This approach encourages consistent care and many rural health care providers share this sentiment.
Creel, a provider at the Edisto Indian Free Clinic, aims to introduce a bus service that transports patients from their homes to his Ridgeville clinic. The clinic has been a cornerstone of Creel’s medical career and continues to serve patients in need. This initiative is vital in South Carolina as the state traditionally ranked low in HPV vaccine rates. Since its launch, the van has provided 1750 HPV shots to young individuals most of whom did not have insurance or were on Medicaid. The effectiveness of this community health van lies in its mobility which enables the team to reach patients where they are and encourage consistent care.
