THE FOLLOWING IS AN OSF RELEASE
Mobile health unit continues to bring quality care to Vermilion County residents who can’t get to a health care facility
(July 9, 2024 | Danville, Illinois) – Two years after the launch of the OSF Care-a-van, a mobile health unit serving Vermilion County, Illinois, OSF HealthCare continues to bring quality care and guidance to people who can’t get to a health care facility. A pair of upcoming community events will serve as a preview of plans to offer more services from the Care-a-van in the near future.
On July 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., OSF and Danville Police will host a mini marathon and fun day at Friendly Town, a space for kids at Lincoln Park (1000 N. Logan Ave., Danville). The event will include inflatables, games, food trucks and a chance for parents to learn about local resources to keep their kids safe and healthy. Entry for the mini marathon is free, but registration is required. Scan the QR code on the attached flier for more information.
On August 1 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., OSF will collaborate with the Vermilion County Health Department and other community groups for a back to school bash at the health department’s headquarters (200 S. College St., Danville). For the first time on the OSF Care-a-van, providers will offer physical exams and vaccinations, fulfilling a critical need for kids entering Kindergarten and sixth and ninth grades. Catch-up immunizations will also be available for kids 16 and up. OSF pediatricians will conduct the physicals, while health department staff will give the vaccines.
Other groups expected at the back to school bash include Birth to Five Illinois, CRIS Healthy Aging senior services, Fair Hope Children’s Ministry, iGrow of Vermilion County, Kruger’s ATA Martial Arts and Project Success of Vermilion County. Residents can also pick up donated food, formula and diapers courtesy of the Illinois Soybean Growers and Senator Paul Faraci’s office.
“The OSF Care-a-van has reached hundreds of people, young and old, over the last two years, offering things like blood pressure screening and advice on healthy habits for kids. We’re excited to continue to plan for the future and offer more services, like physicals and other screenings, on the Care-a-van,” said Mia Harrier, program manager for community health at OSF HealthCare Sacred Heart Medical Center in Danville. “We know getting to the hospital or clinic can be tough. So, we want to meet Vermilion County residents and businesses where they are, build relationships and get people on the road to better health.”
The OSF Care-a-van was made possible by a generous donation from the Julius W. Hegeler II Foundation.
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OSF HealthCare is an integrated health system founded by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, OSF HealthCare has 16 hospitals – 10 acute care, five critical access, 1 transitional care – with 2,131 licensed beds throughout Illinois and Michigan. OSF employs nearly 24,000 Mission Partners across 150+ locations; has two colleges of nursing; operates OSF Home Care Services, an extensive network of home health and hospice services; owns Pointcore, Inc., comprised of health care-related businesses; OSF HealthCare Foundation, the philanthropic arm for the organization; and OSF Ventures, which provides investment capital for promising health care innovation startups. In 2020, OSF OnCall was established, a digital health operating unit, including a hospital-at-home. OSF OnCall delivers care and services when, where and how patients prefer to receive them. OSF HealthCare has been recognized by Fortune as one of the most innovative companies in the country. More at osfhealthcare.org.
