Making the Mobile Health Clinic the go-to choice for care

When Kathy, Nathan and Alexander Piller need treatment for an illness or injury, a check-up, blood work, vaccination or connection to a specialist they can:

A: Drive nearly 20 miles to a Mayo Clinic Health System clinic in either Owatonna or Austin, Minnesota.

B: Find care at the big, blue Mobile Health Clinic, parked right in their hometown of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota.

"B" is the easy choice for the Pillers, who have made the Mobile Health Clinic their go-to choice for everyday healthcare.

"As soon as the Mobile Health Clinic began coming to Blooming Prairie, we've been using it for our healthcare," says Kathy. "It's close, convenient, easy to get into for an appointment and just like going to the clinic. You can even do a video visit with Emily."

Emily is Emily Majerus, a Family Medicine physician assistant at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin, Minnesota.

Bringing healthcare to patients' doorsteps

"I've always been focused on opportunities to create access to care, especially in these small communities. Essentially, we're traveling to people's doorsteps and providing high-quality, patient-centered care," says Emily.

"Patient compliance increases when you make care so convenient. I can see patients on Tuesday and follow up with them on Thursday. It's a lot easier to come back for a blood pressure check when you're only five to 10 minutes away."

Majerus adds that although she can see her Blooming Prairie patients in Austin, many wait until the Mobile Health Clinic comes to town.

"The mobile clinic functions like my brick-and-mortar clinic in Austin. It just has more wheels and windows," she says.

Keeping young adults connected

For the Pillers, the Mobile Health Clinic is a family affair. Kathy, a special education teacher and volunteer emergency medical technician, and Nathan, who teaches art, are joined in their regular use of the Mobile Health Clinic by their son, Alexander, a 21-year-old electrician.

When Alexander moved away for six months, he continued his healthcare with Emily via video visits. After moving back to Blooming Prairie, he switched back to in-person visits.

"Having a touch point that's local is a real bonus for ensuring continuity of care, especially in Alex's age group," Emily says. "It's hard for these young adults to take off work, and it's easy for them to lose their connection to regular healthcare. Alex has stayed plugged in for medicine checks, acute care, vaccinations and more through the Mobile Health Clinic."

Kathy adds that the Mobile Health Clinic is a benefit for patients of all ages.

"Because it's in town, it benefits everyone, especially the older people," she says. "They can get their care right here, and the Mobile Health Clinic is accessible for all patients."

About the Mobile Health Clinic

The Mobile Health Clinic provides year-round preventive health screenings, chronic disease management and telehealth to connect patients to Mayo Clinic Health System healthcare professionals.

Services include:

• Acute illness and infection
• Anticoagulation and international normalized ratio, or INR, checks
• Chronic disease follow-ups
• Immunizations
• Pediatrics
• Preventive services
• Sprains and fractures (casting or imaging done at standard clinics)
• Wellness visits
• Virtual pacemaker checks
• Virtual specialty consults

The Mobile Health Clinic regularly visits Blooming Prairie, Butterfield and Sherburn, Minnesota, and Lake Mills, Iowa.

Learn more about the Mobile Health Clinic and take a virtual tour.