Care on the move

A new mobile medical service is now available in Newton. CareMore launched a Mobile Health Care RV Thursday delivering personalized care and helping to improve access.

Located at 1000 E. 12th St. S., the mobile unit will be in Newton each Thursday. The RV is equipped with an exam room, in-house lab and additional amenities to care for the patients on the road and enforces the more than $200,000 commitment CareMore has made to provide services to the area.

“Mobile care for our Amerigroup T19 patients will improve access to care by resolving extended drive times and help foster referrals within the community for specialty medical and dental services,” Dr. Robert Weissinger said. “We focus on holistic patient care and emphasize preventative services to help maintain well-being. We work in cooperation with the patients local primary care provider if they have selected one or take on that role if the patient desires.”

The mobile clinic is staffed with a provider, medical assistant and a member of the community outreach team. Currently, the unit can accommodate: minor sports injuries, small laceration repair, IV hydration, medication follow-up, wellness exams, work and sports physicals, pre-employment and daycare physicals, select vaccines, drug testing, treatment of UTI, STD/HIV screening, lab draws, rapid testing of COVID and other seasonal respiratory illnesses, blood pressure check, cough/cold/sinus ailments and health screenings.

“CareMore also has a strong focus on behavioral health and will work in harmony with virtual and local mental health providers to maximize the patients well-being by treating the whole patient,” Weissinger said. “We stress the utilization of local services including pharmacy, physical therapy, and urgent care as dictated by the problem the patient is encountering.”

As the patient census grows, Weissinger said, CareMore will continue to expand availability to the community. The mobile clinic will help fill the need for CareMore following the closure of the brick and mortar facility. Although the building closed, services continued through mobile outreach and home visits. The mobile RV will be another piece for CareMore to serve the citizens of Jasper County.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com