Upper West Side Health Center Debuts Mobile Clinic

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — An Upper West Side health center debuted its new mobile health van with a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday. The van will help provide preventative and primary care in underserved neighborhoods, the health center announced.

Ryan Health Center revealed the mobile clinic — housed in a 33-foot-long Winnebago — in front of its West 97th Street location. The van will be staffed by a nurse practitioner, a licensed practical nurse and an outreach worker (who also drives) to provide services such as preventative and primary care, HIV testing and prevention, diabetes management and vaccinations, the center said.

"For many New Yorkers, access to healthcare is a challenge. With the introduction of this new state-of-the-art mobile health center, Ryan Health continues to place patients at the center of their care, no matter where we may serve them, embodying our tagline, 'Caring for New York. Here for you,'" Brian McIndoe, president and chief executive officer of Ryan Health, said in a statement.

The van is outfitted with two full exam rooms — one of which is designed for handicapped patients — an enhanced HVAC system, a TV screen for patient education, space for vaccinations and medications and an awning for outreach work on the sidewalk.

The mobile health center will be in use Mondays through Fridays and will accept the same Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial health plans taken at the 18 Ryan Health non-profit centers in the city.

Photos courtesy Ryan Health Center