Lake County Dept. of Health’s new Community Mobile Health Clinic

Mobile health clinic meets people where they are

Contributed By: The 411 News

Long on its wish list, the Lake County Health Department launched its new Community Mobile Health Clinic, Friday.

The department’s health clinic on wheels will be staffed by 2 nurses and has space inside for consultations with 2 patients at a time.

The clinic is not going to be taking over any services that are already present, said Lake County’s Health Officer Dr. Chandana Vavilala. “It’s going to break down barriers and ensure that healthcare will always be within reach, no matter where you are throughout Lake County.”

Transportation and work schedules shouldn’t prevent people from accessing healthcare, Dr. Vavilala said. “Our mobile clinic will eliminate those barriers, bringing essential services to every zip code and every area.”

The Community Mobile Health Clinic will help the department expand its services of vaccinations and immunizations, TB testing, health advice and education, wellness checks and health screenings.

Now, the department won’t have to rely on community health fairs jointly sponsored by healthcare providers to reach neighborhoods that need its services.

Communities and neighborhoods can contact the department’s Public Health Clinic, (219) 755-3658, to discuss and schedule an available date for a mobile clinic visit.

“Our mobile clinic will serve as an educational hub, providing information on chronic disease prevention, nutrition as well as key health topics to empower individuals as well as families,” Dr. Vavilala said. “We will closely work with the schools, closely work with the community centers, medical providers as well as the local organizations to ensure that our clinic reaches the areas with the greatest need to provide the right services at each community.”

Purchase of the $229,000 specialized medical mobile unit was made possible by funding through the Health First Indiana initiative established by Senate Enrolled Act 4-2023. Participating health departments must focus their efforts on a variety of indicators including maternal and child health, tobacco and vaping prevention and cessation, chronic disease prevention and immunizations.

The Prenatal Assistance Program at Franciscan Health was among the Health Department’s partners joining in the mobile clinic launch.

“If the mobile health clinic comes across a woman who is pregnant or who has a child under 6 months old and may need additional support to connect with insurance or OB-Gyn services, the clinic can refer the mom to us and we can help make those connections,” said A’Onesty Cross, the Prenatal Assistance Program coordinator. The program can also assist the mother if she’s in need of diapers and infant formula.


Inside the mobile medical clinic, 2 examination rooms


Franciscan Health Prenatal Assistance Program’s Jackie Carter, left, and A’Onesty Cross


Lake County Board of Health member Dr. Deborah McCullough, l-r, Indiana State Senator Dan Durnelc, Lake County Health Chief of Nursing Marianne Kundich, Dr. Vavilala, Health First Indiana Project Manager Michelle Arnold, and Lake County Commissioner Mike Repay.

Story Posted:02/08/2025