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| 3/11/2009 | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Students of Riverbank High’s Step by Step program gather to cut a ribbon for the Golden Valley Health Center’s new mobile health clinic that arrived on their campus Thursday. The crowded affair brought out many dignitaries including Superintendent of Schools Ken Geisick (seen on the right), Mayor David I. White, Healthy Start director Esther Rosario and Chamber of Commerce chairperson Carla Strong besides Golden Valley Health Center officers.
JOHN BRANCH/THE NEWS |
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| Physician’s assistant Vlascovia Rios shows off the interior of the converted Greyhound bus that houses the mobile medical clinic that Golden Valley Health Centers is bringing to Riverbank. The bus will be stationed near California Avenue School on Fridays and at Riverbank High on Tuesdays. It will offer low-cost, primary care treatment and referral.
JOHN BRANCH/THE NEWS |
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Mobile Medical Clinic Opens
A mobile health clinic has opened in Riverbank with the intention of offering low cost, primary care medical services to all those in need.
Decorated with pictures of smiling, healthy looking families and labeled MOM (for Mobile Outreach Medical), the Greyhound bus housing the clinic was parked on Eighth Street near California Avenue School early Friday morning and had drawn half a dozen patients by noon.
Conceived by Golden Valley Health Centers, Riverbank Unified School District and Riverbank High's student group known as Step By Step, the mobile clinic will be staffed by Golden Valley Health Centers personnel and based either on or near Riverbank High and California Avenue schools.
Initially, the bus will be stationed at Riverbank High on Tuesdays and near California Avenue School on Fridays. The plan is to add at least another day of service by May, said physician's assistant Vlascovia Rios. Operating hours will be 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. although the last appointment of the day will be made for 3 p.m.
Appointments may be made by calling 209-574-1377. But walk-ins are welcome.
The mobile clinic is divided into a receptionist area, a miniature laboratory, a restroom and two treatment rooms. Rios is helped by a receptionist and a medical assistant and has the option of referring the more serious cases to physicians.
The health center company's fliers promise friendly, bilingual staff, CHDP services with physicals for children, family PACT and family practice services. The company will accept Medi-Cal, Medicare, Healthy Families and most private insurance. There are also sliding fee and discount programs available to those who qualify.
The health center firm, school district and community youth activists kicked off the project with a well-attended grand opening on the RHS campus on Thursday morning.
Speakers included Step by Step leader Israel Hernandez, Golden Valley Health Centers CEO Mike Sullivan, Riverbank School District superintendent Ken Geisick and Riverbank Mayor David I. White.
Riverbank Chamber of Commerce president Carla Strong organized the ribbon cutting that followed the speeches.
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