Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- A mobile health care clinic that aims to serve those without access to health care in the Salt Lake Valley and beyond was in Glendale Wednesday.
It's run by Utah Partners for Health, a nonprofit organization based out of Magna. Organizers say they target the uninsured, under-insured and under-represented.
Approximately 300,000 Utah residents are without health insurance at some point during the year. Nine out of ten are families with working adults. -Utah Partners for Health
"[Our patients] don't understand our system. They have fears, they have language problems, they have transportation problems," said executive director Kurt Micka.
Utah Partners for Health estimates it has provided over $2.4 million in health care since 2003.
Wednesday's clinic was held at Mountain View Elementary School, the mobile clinic trailer set up on the asphalt of the playground. It was a tight fit, but there was enough room to treat two families at a time.
Medical staff either volunteered or provided services at a massively discounted rate. About 55 people were seen for ailments ranging from sore throats, to ear infections, to diabetes testing.
The number of clients helped each year by UPFH increases by an average of at least 67% each year.
Anything that could not be treated on site was referred to a brick-and-mortar clinic that is teamed up with Utah Partners for Health.
"I came to have my vision checked," patient Veronica Jures told KSL News through a translator.
"The need for health care, especially in this area," said Albaro Lemeos. "That's why the clinic is so important."
You won't find the mobile clinic hours and locations online. Instead, the organization prefers to spread the word through community organizations their patient base trusts.
"There's a huge, huge need, so wherever we go we're seeing huge groups of people and it's growing," Micka said. "It's like a flywheel. It's just getting more and more and more [patients].
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
