Whitley County Health Department mobile clinic adding locations

The mission of the Whitely County Health Department is to promote optimal health for all who live, work, learn and play in Whitley County. One way we make progress on that is by assessing our community’s needs, strengths and challenges. When we conducted our Whitley County community health assessment this year, we found what we already knew to be true. Access to care is a problem. Things the public health world calls social determinants of health like poverty and lack of transportation make access to care more difficult. We are excited to update our service model to bring our community mobile services.

Purchased and outfitted using federal COVID-19 funds, the van has heat for the winter and air conditioning for the summer. There is onboard internet, and all our patient records are electronic, so there are no patient files to carry. There is no toilet, so for some tests we do, like pregnancy tests, we borrow our host location’s restroom. If there is a service you need, but we cannot accomplish it on the van, we will help coordinate a way to connect you.

We began mobile clinic services in October in Corbin. Beginning in December, we are expanding our days and locations. While our Williamsburg clinic is now open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 368 Penny Lane, we now also have Mobile Mondays and Wednesday Wheels where there will be a predictable schedule of where to find us on each of those days as we rotate locations.

The goal of our van is to provide almost any service we can perform at our physical location. Examples of that are signing up for WIC, getting tested for sexually transmitted infections, getting naloxone, or a flu shot. At our retail spots you can get your WIC and then go shopping, reducing the number of trips you must make.

We also use the mobile clinic for special events, like acting as a makeshift castle for our princesses at the DCBS Gun Safety Trunk or Treat or staffing a wellness night at White Flag Ministries.

Each Monday and Wednesday, the mobile clinic will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can walk-in, or you can call that morning for an appointment time. There is not usually a wait, but the better the weather, the busier we are. If there is a holiday or severe weather, the mobile clinic will not be open.

Mobile Monday’s focus is more on the Corbin side of Whitley County. Wednesday Wheels focuses more on the southern end of the county. We appreciate the ongoing partnerships with all the locations who are welcoming us into their parking lots.

First Week: (Monday) Grace Health Women’s/Kroger at 1019 Cumberland Falls Hwy; (Wednesday) Save-A-Lot Jellico at 12075 US-25W

Second Week: (Monday) Corbin City Pool at 409 Barbourville Street; (Wednesday) South Whitley Fire Department at 3480 Hwy 1804

Third Week: (Monday) Dollar General Woodbine at 2055 KY 26; (Wednesday) Dollar General Bee Creek at 11 Bee Creek Rd.

Fourth Week: (Monday) Corbin Civic Center at 128 Civic Center Drive; (Wednesday) Dollar General Rockholds at 8883 KY 26

Fifth Week, if needed: (Monday) Save-A-Lot Corbin at 1520 Cumberland Falls Hwy; (Wednesday) Dollar General Canadatown at 2824 Hwy 204

Meeting people where they are is central to our mission, vision, and values at Whitley County Health Department. Our mobile clinic is an important step in that direction. Please stop by and say hello when you see us out in the community.

For more information, call us at 606-549-3380. You can also find the most current schedule on Facebook or at www.whitleycountyhealthdepartment.com. To see our community health assessment and improvement plan, visit https://dashboards.mysidewalk.com/whitley-county-health-assessment.