Virginia Garcia Rolls Out New Mobile Clinic In Support Of Outreach Efforts (Photo) -08/05/19
BEAVERTON, OR -
Lupe was a 22-year-old female migrant farmworker that traveled with her family to Oregon during the summer to work in the fields. The only medical care she received was when she visited the Virginia Garcia Mobile Clinic. For the last three years, she received an annual wellness exam from Virginia Garcia. This past year she came to the mobile clinic because of severe abdominal pain. Lupe feared it was cancer.
The provider at the camp that day examined her and set a follow-up appointment at the clinic where they ran more tests and connected her with behavioral health providers. She received counseling on the important connection between psychological distress and physical symptoms. With reassuring test results, Lupe was able to return to work. During her last appointment, she expressed a sense of gratitude and relief as well as a strong sense of hope regarding her future.
Every year Virginia Garcia provides medical and dental care, well child checkups and vaccinations, mental and behavioral health counseling, wellness classes and pharmacy services to more than 700 farm workers living in camps a mere 15 minutes outside of Hillsboro through the mobile clinic. Care is provided at camps, schools and community events and is often in partnership with other community organizations such as the Oregon Food Bank, PCC and the Mexican Consulate.
Tuesday, August 6 Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center will kick off National Health Center Week with a celebration of the new mobile clinic.
The new 39’ mobile clinic replaces a much smaller, older version that was retired last year after 20 years of service. The mobile clinic offers two exam rooms with privacy for the patient and feature convertible medical exam tables/dental chairs. There is a reception area with seating, an x-ray machine, bathroom, sterilization unit and a vaccination refrigerator.
The celebration will take place in front of Beaverton City Hall and will include Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, Mayor Denny Doyle, Mayor Steve Callaway, several Washington County Commissioners as well as city and county elected officials from the area.
Details
Tuesday, August 6
3pm-4:30pm
Beaverton City Hall in The Round
“No matter who we are, what we look like, or where we come from, we all want to be healthy—and that means each of us needs access to quality and compassionate health care,” said Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley. “Thanks to Virginia Garcia’s mobile clinic, upward of 700 farm workers and their families will receive a host of medical care and educational services—now with even better conditions for patients, thanks to this community effort. I will continue to do everything I can to be a strong federal partner to Virginia Garcia, and support their incredible efforts to make health care accessible to everyone in Oregon.”
National Health Center Week kicks off Monday, August 5 with free community fairs at most of the Virginia Garcia primary clinics. For details on the local fairs, head to virginiagarcia.org/2019-nhcw
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Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center provides high quality, comprehensive and culturally appropriate primary health care with a special emphasis on those with barriers to receiving health care. Since its founding 44 years ago, Virginia Garcia has grown from a single, grassroots clinic into a full service health care home serving Washington and Yamhill counties. Today, Virginia Garcia employs nearly 650 people, has a budget of more than $63 million, and serves about 48,000 patients at five primary care clinics, six dental clinics, five school-based health centers, a women’s clinic, and a mobile outreach clinic.
Visit www.virginiagarcia.org for more information on the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center.
