By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó What’s 40 feet long, orange and green all over and is filled with nurses and doctors?
It’s a mobile clinic and it’s coming to Rowan County. The Community Care Cruiser, a 40-foot-long recreational vehicle, has been serving children with general health needs in Mecklenburg and Union counties since November 2007.
“This is geared specifically toward kids,” said Falon Nye, Rowan Regional Public Relations and Marketing specialist.
On Tuesday it will be stationed at a parking lot at 307 Thom St., China Grove from 9 a.m.- noon and 1-3 p.m. After this initial date the clinic will return to Thom Street the third Tuesday of every month.
The doctor’s office on wheels will provide primary and preventative care to uninsured and underinsured children ó newborn to 17 years.
The Cruiser’s team, which consists of a medical director, pediatric nurse practitioner, nursing staff, a social worker and an interpreter will provide everything from developmental screenings, disease diagnosis, immunizations and community resources referrals.
The Cruiser staff works with Parish Nursing and various local agencies to identify underserved areas of this region, Nye said.
Cruiser sponsors include: Charlotte Bobcats, Duke Endowment, the Foundation for the Carolinas and the Goodrich Foundation. It is also supported by Presbyterian Hemby Children’s Hospital and Rowan Regional Medical Center. Since Rowan Regional and Presbyterian are both apart of Novant Health, the cruiser is available to Rowan County residents. The Cruiser’s vendor is Lifeline Mobile.
For information, visit www.presbyterian.org/cruiser.com