Nevada HAND Partners with Touro University to Bring Mobile Clinic to Senior Residents

The main goal of the affordable housing industry is to provide safe and comfortable communities within the financial means of low-income residents. However, another goal of many developers is to offer access to services that contribute to the well being of the residents who may not otherwise have the ability to obtain some of life’s necessities and conveniences.

Nevada HAND, one of the largest providers of affordable housing for families and seniors in Southern Nevada, has recently joined forces with Touro University to provide one such necessity – healthcare. In conjunction with other local organizations, Nevada HAND and Touro University recently held a ribbon cutting to introduce Touro’s third mobile clinic to Las Vegas.

With a Geriatric Medicine Fellowship in place, Touro University Nevada was interested in creating a mobile medical clinic experience with a senior population. Community partners referred Touro to Nevada HAND, recognized as a trusted leader in providing affordable housing solutions with supportive services for low-income families and seniors.

To ensure success, senior residents were surveyed regarding health support needs and use of a mobile medical clinic located steps away from their front doors.  The data collected demonstrated strong interest by residents, convincing both Nevada HAND and Touro to move forward. This included a review of insurance providers, risk management issues, and development of a memorandum of understanding.

In the meantime, Touro worked with community donors to fund the purchase and customization of a recreational vehicle inclusive of a mobile lift for seniors who might use a wheel chair or find steps difficult to manage. 

The RV is fully equipped as a functioning medical clinic with the latest record management systems and communication technologies.  The mobile clinic will provide means to better access to healthcare for seniors living in some of Nevada’s HAND’s communities.  Seniors will be able to walk out their front doors onto the mobile clinic and see a doctor much more quickly than if they had to find transportation and go to a medical facility. Making healthcare convenient in this manner will encourage seniors to seek medical attention for conditions more readily, hopefully preventing an emergency situation.

Five Nevada HAND communities have been selected including two sites with both senior independent and assisted living located next to each other and one site located in the city of Henderson, which is co-located with a Henderson Downtown Senior Center. 

The Touro Mobile Clinic will provide primary healthcare needs.  The services provided by these mobile clinics will include blood pressure checks, glucose checks, suture removal, wound care, diagnostic testing such as routine lab tests, rapid strep tests, urinalysis and vaccinations, such as Flu vaccine, Pneumovax, and Zostavax. Clinicians will be able to diagnose and treat sore throats, cough, ear pain/infections, abdominal pain, sinus pain/infection, pink eye, and upper respiratory infections.

The mobile clinic will begin seeing residents in October and will visit Decatur Pines, Silver Sky at Deer Springs, Westcliff Pines and Pacific Pines.