ASSISTANT EDITOR
Kherz’den Humphrey
The Life Choices Mobile Medical Unit is something that many have seen on campus, yet few truly know about it and the services it provides. The van is on the Neosho campus the first and third Thursday of each month. Typically parked by the Bell Tower, it is within short distance for students to access while on campus.
“Anything that can be done in the brick and mortar can be done in the van,” explains Mishca Long RN, the Director of Nursing at Life Choices. The purpose of the can is to bring services to those who cannot make it to one of the clinics. There are two clinics aside from the van, one in Carthage and one Joplin.
The Mobile Medical Unit provides completely free services, thanks to one of their donors, all lab fees are waved. Services include wellness screening, pregnancy services, and STI testing/treatment.
Wellness screenings include: blood pressure and glucose tests, BMI and weight tests as well as pulse checks. They serve as a gateway for some students who may be nervous to approach the van for additional services.
Available pregnancy services are testing, limited OB ultrasounds as well as community referrals. The limited OB ultrasounds are done using a portable machine, however, it can still print out the images like in a real office. There is even a bathroom in the van for patients to use for their tests, as well as an exam table.
Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing and treatment is an essential part of the van’s services, checks from various STIs such as; HIV, Syphilis Gonorrhea and many others can be done inside in a discreet manner. Treatments are given when possible.
Operating the van are two medical professionals, a rotation of four women, who all have a connection to Neosho, or even Crowder. Kristy Crawford, RN, Molly Shifferd, NP, Mischa Long, RN, and Susan Wohlenhaus, CNA who is a Crowder alumni. All of these women are trained and ready to help with anything they can, and make students feel as comfortable as possible when utilizing their services.
Before Covid-19, the Mobile Medical Unit was receiving a decent amount of students, however, since there are less on campus, it isn’t very busy. In order to gain the attention of more students, Life Choices takes part in Crowder’s Welcome Week as well as Wellness Week.
Student Affairs takes part in organizing the presence of the Mobile Medical Unit on campus. Assistant Vice President Jamie Ward, says that the department with Crowder Cares just recently took a tour of the van in order to become more informed of it’s services. “We are going to be asking student groups, resident assistants, student ambassadors and different areas of the college to take tours of the van in order to raise awareness.”
Ward hopes that this will encourage more students to visit the van, or even just spread information about the van to others. She believes that the Mobile Medical Unit hugely benefits students by being on campus, especially those with no insurance or those on their parent’s insurance. “Parents don’t have to know that students are using the services, and it helps students become more responsible if they know they can go without judgement.”
The van is parked on campus, however it is positioned in a way that the entrance faces away from the campus buildings. “This provides a sense of privacy for students to be able to just slip over to the van potentially not being seen. It just gives a little more comfort to those who may feel nervous.” Long explains.
Those who work in the van strive to provide the most comfortable environment to students. Ward mentioned how comfortable and comforting of an environment the van and workers provided, “It’s a no judgement zone, all the women were very welcoming and made us feel very comfortable on our tour!”
“The Mobile Medical Unit is a very unique experience, and Crowder is blessed to have it on campus for students to access.” Ward states. Soon Crowder will begin to see more advertising for the Life Choices van. Student Affairs plans to begin airing ads on the tv monitors and posting on social media in order to gain the attention of more students.
Students can find more information about Life Choices and the services provided, as well as dates and times clinics and the van are available at choicesmedical.org or by calling 417.624.8030.
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