Family services agency, hospital team up for mobile medical partnership

SAN ANTONIO—Baptist Health System and Baptist Child & Family Services have launched a mobile medical partnership organizers say is focused on “driving health forward” in the San Antonio area.

Conducted via a state-of-the-art mobile medical unit, the program will offer cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure and body mass index screenings, as well as provide risk assessments for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Screenings will be open to the public for free or at low cost.

“For decades, Baptist Health System has demonstrated its commitment to caring for our community by building hospitals around the city, near where people live and work,” Baptist Health System President Graham Reeve said.

“Now, by expanding our relationship with BCFS, we are able to improve access to health care by actually taking screenings and care into neighborhoods. We want to eliminate barriers to good health.”

According to the Texas Diabetes Institute, more than 73,000 people in San Antonio suffer from diabetes.

The disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in Texas and the fourth-leading cause of death in Bexar County. Chronic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease and renal failure also are found in high numbers across the county.

“Early detection and education regarding how to control these common health issues are paramount. For any number of reasons, hundreds of thousands of people throughout our city are suffering from diseases both known and unknown,” said BCFS President Kevin Dinnin.

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“Our goal is to end this trend by offering easily accessible screenings and raising awareness of available resources for healthy living.”

Screenings will be offered at high-volume commercial locations such as shopping malls, community centers and housing projects, as well as at community health and wellness fairs, senior centers, corporate wellness events, churches and school events.

If a serious condition is detected during the screening, the individual will be referred to his or her physician for follow-up medical care. Educational materials will be provided so residents can reduce their risk of developing chronic disease.

“Taking affordable health care screenings … directly into neighborhoods can have quite an impact on the health and well-being of our community,” said Fernando Guerra, director of health for the Metropolitan Health District. “The greater understanding individuals have of their health status, the more willing they may be to change it.”