Bethlehem health care gets the green light with clinic on wheels

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bethlehem Health Bureau is taking health care on the road this summer.

It recently premiered its mobile health clinic to the community.

"Instead of expecting the community to come to City Hall to receive services, we could take our services out into the neighborhoods,” Bethlehem Health Director Kristen Wenrich said.

The Health Bureau’s mobile health clinic offers immunizations, family planning services, STD and HIV testing.

It also assists people with health insurance applications for Medicaid and can connect others to various social services.

“If they need help connecting to WIC, insurance or other community resources, we'll have social workers who are able to provide that, just general health education, health screenings,” Wenrich said.

She said it also is looking into childhood lead testing.

'Nice, brand new clinic on wheels'

The bus-like clinic first hit the streets of Bethlehem in May after a two-year waiting period. The Health Director says it was paid for with leftover COVID-19 funding.

“There's privacy with the patient and provider, there's a little waiting area, we have a bathroom on board," Wenrich said.

"So it's just taking the clinics that we have here on site at City Hall, and it's just they're a little bit smaller, but certainly still offering the privacy, the convenience.

"And it's a nice, brand new clinic on wheels.”

Those with the health bureau now are able to look at the data they collect to see where people have trouble accessing care, so it can bring services to underserved people where they live, she said.

"We've long recognized that access to health care is a barrier for some of our residents,” Wenrich said.

The mobile unit is scheduled to be at Madison Park, off Ontario Street, from 5 to 7 p.m. June 26, July 17 and Aug. 14.