ICHS mobile clinic expands access to healthcare through trusted partne...

ICHS mobile clinic expands access to healthcare through trusted partnerships

August 20, 2024

448385042_987039143430883_6471108954013273138_n — ICHS' Mobile Medical Van set up in front of Renton Viet Wah serving King County patients on June 12, 2024.

Thiên was overjoyed to walk her two kids to their first doctor's appointment with International Community Health Services (ICHS) new Mobile Medical Van. Originally from Vietnam, she had been trying to find a doctor locally that she could speak with directly. As they passed through the chain link fence gate on the north side of Morrill Meadows Park in Kent, her kids ran ahead down the tree-lined nature path.

It didn’t feel like going to a doctors appointment for Thiên or for her playful kids.

They pass the dog park and they see the brand new ICHS Mobile Medical Van, a shiny new Ford Transit full-size van, in the parking lot of the brand new Kent YMCA. ICHS’ team that greets them with a wave.

Thiên’s kids had been overdue for their well-child checkups and routine immunizations. The appointment with ICHS’ primary care provider inside the sleek new mobile medical van. Then just like that, Thiên and her kids were on their way back home.

Serving patients like Thiên right in the community they live in is the new chapter of healthcare, says Braden Hirasawa, Director of Clinic Operations. “It allows us to provide care closer to where our patients live,” says Hirasawa.

ICHS is a non-profit federally qualified community health center that provides culturally- and linguistically-appropriate health and wellness services to people of all ages. Deeply rooted in the Asian Pacific Islander community, ICHS delivers high-quality health care services and promotes health equity for all.

ICHS operates ten full service clinics or service sites in Seattle, Bellevue, and Shoreline. The Mobile Medical Van opened in May 2024 and marks ICHS’ 11th service location, serving patients weekly in coordination with Renton Viet-Wah, Auburn Valley YMCA, and Kent YMCA.

These spots were picked intentionally, says Hirasawa.

Kent and Auburn in South King County have seen rapid population growth, including growing BIPOC and immigrant communities. Data show us that historical and systemic barriers affect the health and life span of people of color and people who live in low-income communities.

“We are pleased and excited to launch this new mobile van in South King County,” said Nomura. “Its our first step in our plan to expand our services across this region of the county to meet the healthcare needs of the diverse and growing population here.”

mobile-medical-clinic-web — The ICHS' Mobile Medical Van's ribbon cutting ceremony was held on May 29, 2024 in front of the Auburn YMCA. “Our organization is but one piece of the community health center and social services ecosystem responding to the needs of King County’s most vulnerable people,” said Nomura. ‘Together, we are crucial to meeting the often complex, multiple healthcare needs of our patients and families, especially immigrants and refugees.

Making it possible for more people to receive critical health-care services

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 29, community leaders, partners and elected officials gathered at the Auburn Valley YMCA to celebrate the launch of ICHS' new Mobile Medical Van. Designed as a mobile doctor’s office, the van brings a primary care team to patients, reducing transportation, scheduling and other barriers.

It's been a success so far, allowing ICHS to engage new patients and support existing patients to receive stable care. It offers vital primary care appointments, as well as bringing behavioral health consults, navigator teams, and COVID-19 testing and vaccination services directly to patients' doorsteps.

In 2022, ICHS provided health services to 30,612 patients who spoke more than 70 languages. 47% of ICHS patients were on Medicaid insurance plans — almost double the rate Washington state share of population covered by Medicaid according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The ICHS Mobile Medical Clinic was funded by Wellpoint Washington.

Wellpoint Washington, formerly Amerigroup, is a Medicaid managed care coordinator that partners with communities to close the health disparity gap in rural and underserved communities across Washington state.

“We are so grateful to Wellpoint for generously donating this van and therefore making it possible for more people to receive critical health-care services across King County, and contributing greatly to our work to reduce and eliminate health disparities,” Nomura.

From months to days

The mobile medical van directly addresses fundamental transportation and access barriers for all patients. Language and cultural barriers pose additional challenges for limited-English-speaking immigrant families to receive medical care.

One medical clinic patient Padilla used to need her children to take time off work to drive her to ICHS’ Holly Park clinic for her care. As an 82 year old, she no longer drove, and navigating transit to the clinic with her health issues was a major challenge. But with the mobile medical van visiting Kent Auburn, only minutes away from her home, she has now been able to see her provider regularly.

The Mobile van provides her continued independence, says Dr. Beth Weitensteiner, ICHS Medical Director at ICHS’ Holly Park Medical Clinic. “Its also helping her family, less stress for and improved financial stability for her kids not having to take time off work.”

Alex (name has been changed) was one of the patients seen on the first day of the mobile van clinic opening in Auburn. In the past, they had struggled with finding culturally and linguistically appropriate care that respected their identity as a transgender individual. Previously, they traveled all the way to Southeast Asia for their medication treatments.

Feeling unwell, they called ICHS in May 2024 to see a doctor but the wait time for a new patient appointment at ICHS’ nearest clinic was over three months. But they were introduced to the Mobile Medical clinic which would travel near their home, and they signed up for an appointment on the first opening day. This was incredibly fortuitous as ICHS’ team was able to help them stabilize their health.

The Mobile Medical Clinic has seen a high number of new patients like Alex. Of the 129 patients served in the past two months, 50% of visits are new patients. We are able to decrease the lead time for New Patient appointments from three to four months to one to eight days.

Its a door into ICHS explains Tram Le, ICHS Health Center Manager. “We can connect patients with other services provided at ICHS.

Names of patients have been changed.