Mobile wellness clinic expands services into south Santa Cruz County

The Dignity Health Dominican Hospital Mobile Wellness Clinic has expanded its services to Watsonville.

That means the low-cost, immediate care program is funded through donations to the Dominican Hospital Foundation. The mobile clinic now provides episodic care for uninsured and underinsured residents in eight locations throughout the county – Davenport, Felton, Scotts Valley, Aptos, Watsonville, and three locations in Santa Cruz.

The clinic operates five days a week and has served nearly 2,500 patients in the past year.

“The clinic provides a tremendous service to communities in Santa Cruz County,” said Sister Michaella Siplak, Director of Community Health Integration Services at Dominican Hospital. “Our goal is to keep people out of the emergency room. We help patients see a clinician before their condition gets to the point that an ER visit is required.”

Caregivers at the mobile clinic treat a range of chronic conditions including diabetes, hypertension and congestive heart failure. The wellness clinic actively promotes good health with screenings for high cholesterol, diabetes and other diseases.

Patients at the clinic pay $15 per visit.

Funding to expand the clinic’s reach was provided by a grant from the Adrian Dominican Sisters, and donations from Dominican Hospital employees through the Dominican Hospital Foundation’s Employee Giving Campaign.

To support the Mobile Wellness Clinic, contact the Dominican Hospital Foundation office at 462-7712 or givingtodominican@dignityhealth.org.