RAMSEY COUNTY, Minn. — Ramsey County has a new mobile medical vehicle equipped to reduce health disparities in underserved communities.
The county first rolled out its CareVan in February, and has been testing it at events including Fiesta Latina, Pride, the Walk for Recovery and a drug take-back event.
"We purchased the CareVan with the help of the federal Title X grant funds," said Ramsey County Public Health Director Sara Hollie at a press conference and ribbon cutting Thursday. "The response to the soft launch has been excellent and today we're ready to roll it out to other community organizations and groups."
Located in the Public Health Center at 555 Cedar St., St. Paul, Clinic 555 offers free to low-cost sexual and reproductive health services to teens and adults. Now, those same services are in the CareVan.
"When somebody comes into the van, we do a nursing assessment," said nurse Erin Pratt, who works in the van. "It's equipped with an exam table to do possible Pap smears, breast exams."
Some of the services include screening and testing for STIs, HIV and Hepatitis C.
"I so want to applaud Public Health and Clinic 555 for thinking outside the box, or in this case, thinking outside the building," Ramsey County Board of Commissioners Chair Trista Martinson said.
Earlier this week, they also piloted telehealth capabilities in the van.
"We were in a shelter for domestic violence," Pratt said. "We just pulled our van up and we do an assessment and somebody's like, 'Well, I want to start on birth control,' or, 'I need Chlamydia treatment,' or 'I need emergency contraception.' We'll dial in to the provider … and I'll take the orders so I can hand out the meds right here."
"Many of us can use telehealth services from our homes to meet with practitioners to get information about our health needs, but if you don't have the Internet or even a working computer or telephone, that's nearly impossible," Martinson added.
Also in stock are harm-reduction supplies, including the opioid overdose treatment, Narcan, and clean syringes.
Martinson says several groups have already requested the CareVan, but where it heads next is up to the community to decide.
"Public health is actively seeking requests from community organizations and groups interested in having the CareVan available at their sites on a regular basis or advance or at events," Hollie said.
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