Title
Receive a presentation and vote to approve the purchase of a mobile health clinic for $250,000 and authorize the County Manager to negotiate the contract with Tesco Specialty Vehicles
Abstract
Introduction & Background: The Chatham County Public Health Department (CCPHD) is proposing the purchase of a mobile health clinic to expand access to healthcare services throughout Chatham County while also providing a flexible resource that can support the County during emergencies and other community needs.
CCPHD has explored the use of a mobile healthcare unit for several years, with planning beginning in earnest during the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination response. The need for mobile healthcare continues due to transportation barriers, the geographic size of Chatham County, and the opportunity to increase participation in services by bringing healthcare directly into communities. The 2024 Chatham County Community Assessment identified Access to Healthcare Options as one of the County's three Health Impact Priorities. More than one-third of surveyed households identified healthcare as an area the County should focus on to improve health and quality of life, while community focus groups also identified the distance residents must travel to receive healthcare as a concern.
The mobile clinic would allow CCPHD to provide services in areas throughout the county rather than relying exclusively on residents traveling to existing clinic locations.
Discussion & Analysis: CCPHD has begun identifying locations and community partners for regular deployment of the mobile clinic. More than 34 potential locations have been identified, with initial approval received from more than 10 community partners, including County Parks and other community locations. During the first six months of operation, CCPHD anticipates deploying the unit at least monthly, with the longer-term goal of twice-monthly deployments in addition to community events and other scheduled activities.
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