Children's Mobile Health Center Receives Excellence in Healthcare Award
Children’s Mobile Health Center
Services Include:
- Immunizations
- Vision and hearing screenings
- Physical examinations
- Health education
- Referrals to primary care physicians and specialists
For more information, or to schedule a visit from the Center, please call
(954) 985-1220 ext. 6465.
August 2004 — Most children get all their immunizations by the time they reach 7th grade. For children in South Broward County who are at risk of missing this important protection against disease, the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Children's Mobile Health Center provides services delivered right to their neighborhoods and schools.
The mobile center, which is staffed by an advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) and medical assistants, provides free or low-cost healthcare services for children from birth to 17 years old, as well as dependents 18 to 21 years old. “Over the last 4 years, the Children’s Mobile Health Center has become very well known. People are aware of our presence and look forward to seeing us,” says Anna Airy, ARNP. In addition to the positive reception within the community, the Center was recently received the 2003 Excellence in Healthcare Award for Community-Based Programs from South Florida Business Journal.
“During the school year, we see 30 to 40 children on an average site visit,” says Airy. “But during the summer, we see up to 100 children per visit. The Center is scheduled at schools, health fairs, daycare centers, churches and Boys & Girls Clubs. We work closely with the school system and the Broward County Health Department to provide medical services that are needed.”
While the main focus is to provide immunizations to keep children’s records up-to-date, the Center is often scheduled to do hearing and vision screenings, as well as routine physical exams for children who will be entering daycare or the public school system for the first time. Educational programs also can be requested to provide children with information on various topics, such as general health, obesity or puberty issues.
"This is an important step in ensuring that quality healthcare services are readily available to the children of our community," said Frank V. Sacco, Memorial Healthcare System's Chief Executive Officer. "It is also an integral part of Memorial's Community First Initiative, an ongoing effort to improve both the health and quality of life of its residents, and to create an overall healthier community."
The Children's Mobile Health Center was originally funded through a $150,000 state grant and a $50,000 donation by the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Foundation, and continues to receive funding through grants and the Foundation. It makes regular visits to Memorial Primary Care Center in Dania Beach and other locations throughout South Broward County. “We still have openings for organizations to schedule visits," says Airy. "It is especially important for children with no insurance and not under the care of a pediatrician to receive the immunizations and medical attention they need. That’s why we’re here."