UTRGV and United Health Foundation Unveil Mobile Clinic to Deliver Health Care to Rio Grande Valley Communities
15 July 2016 - 10:13AM
Business Wire
- “Unimóvil” to provide health
screening, education and convenient access to dental and mental
health services
- Innovative initiative to increase
health care access and health education in the Rio Grande Valley is
funded through a nearly $3 million grant from United Health
Foundation
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of
Medicine and United Health Foundation introduced “Unimóvil” today
at a dedication ceremony.
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The UTRGV School of Medicine and United
Health Foundation unveiled “Unimóvil,” a mobile medical health
clinic, during a July 14 ceremony outside the Medical Education
Building on the Edinburg Campus. The mobile clinic will provide up
to 4,500 Rio Grande Valley residents annually with primary care
services including diagnosis and treatment of common dental and
mental health conditions. It is part of a three-year, $2.88 million
grant the UTRGV School of Medicine received from United Health
Foundation to establish the Center for Colonia Integrated Care
Program: VIDAS and bring increased health care access to Rio Grande
Valley communities (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy).
UTRGV Provost and Executive Vice President Dr. Havidán
Rodriguez; UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas CEO Don Langer;
and other UTRGV, United Health Foundation and community leaders
unveiled the new mobile health clinic, which medical professionals
will use to serve community residents.
Unimóvil will provide primary care services including diagnosis
and treatment of common dental and mental health conditions, as
well as health screenings including: oral health with fluoride
varnish, HIV, depression with phq9, Duke wellness screen, BMI
evaluation, domestic violence screen, vision, hearing, lipid
profile, liver function tests, HgA1C, and women’s health
screen.
Unimóvil’s commissioning was made possible through a $2.88
million grant by United Health Foundation in January 2015 that
established the university’s Center for Colonia Integrated Care
(CCIC) to help improve access to primary and preventive health care
services.
“Access to quality primary and preventive care is essential for
people to maintain good health and quality of life,” said Dr.
Francisco Fernandez, professor of psychiatry, neurology and
neuroscience, UTRGV School of Medicine. “Unimóvil can help remove
some barriers to health care, such as transportation, child care
and work obligations that often put even routine checkups at risk.
It brings health care closer to where people live and work.”
The 45-foot-long clinic is staffed by health care providers and
furnished with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment.
Unimóvil is expected to provide services to up to 4,500 Rio
Grande Valley residents annually.
According to America's Health Rankings Spotlight: Prevention,
Hispanic adults are not receiving as many key clinical preventive
health services – including immunizations, cholesterol checks and
colorectal cancer screenings – as non-Hispanic white and
non-Hispanic black adults.
The report also indicates Hispanic adults are less likely than
non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black adults to visit a
dedicated health care provider. Dedicated health care providers can
help adults navigate the complex health care system and enable
their patients to receive care that can prevent, detect and manage
diseases or other existing conditions. Barriers to health care –
including lack of transportation, child care or work obligations;
financial constraints; and a general lack of knowledge of available
services and care providers – are just some of the challenges
people face when trying to access vital preventive care
services
“One of the ways we help build healthier communities is by
partnering with local organizations to make it easier for people to
access health care services,” said Don Langer, CEO,
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas. “Unimóvil will be on the
front lines of care, delivering the health care provider and vital
services to our neighbors who need them most.”
“Unimóvil will help expand access to health care for thousands
of Texans in the Rio Grande Valley each year,” said Texas Governor
Greg Abbott. “Building a better Texas begins with building
healthier families, and I am proud that UTRGV and United Health
Foundation have joined forces to provide convenient health care
services to the residents of the Rio Grande Valley.”
For more information about Unimóvil’s upcoming visits, call
956-296-1700.
About The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley was created by the
Texas Legislature in 2013 in a historic move that combined the
resources and assets of UT Brownsville and UT Pan American and, for
the first time, made it possible for residents of the Rio Grande
Valley to benefit from the Permanent University Fund. UTRGV
enrolled its first class in fall 2015. The institution also is home
to The UTRGV School of Medicine, which in June 2016 welcomed its
first cohort of 55 medical students. One of only a few medical
schools to be established in the country in several decades, the
UTRGV School of Medicine is designed to transform medical education
and research, train a new generation of physicians in integrative
and personalized care, and impact the health and well-being of the
entire Valley. The School of Medicine aims to become a national
model for innovation and continuous improvement in medical
education, research, and healthcare delivery. Learn more about
UTRGV and the School of Medicine online at www.utrgv.edu
About United Health Foundation
Through collaboration with community partners, grants and
outreach efforts, United Health Foundation works to improve our
health system, build a diverse and dynamic health workforce and
enhance the well-being of local communities. United Health
Foundation was established by UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) in 1999
as a not-for-profit, private foundation dedicated to improving
health and health care. To date, United Health Foundation has
committed more than $285 million to programs and communities around
the world. We invite you to learn more at
www.unitedhealthfoundation.org or follow @UHGGives on Twitter or
Facebook.com/UHGGives.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160714006445/en/
UnitedHealthcareDustin Clark,
214-438-8251dustin.clark@uhc.comorThe University of Texas Rio
Grande ValleyMarci Caltabiano,
956-665-2742marci.caltabiano@utrgv.edu
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