Wed, January 28, 2009
The News Review

Kids’ health care on the move

Marissa Harshman
The News-Review,

The outside of the once white Dodge Sprinter van is covered with yellow and green swirls and spirals. The bright purple words sprawled across the side of the van hint at how it is used without revealing what’s inside.

Kids in Riddle had the chance Wednesday to check out the new van, which will serve as a mobile health clinic for the Riddle and Winston school districts. The van will alternate between the two districts, providing each with four hours of clinic care four times a month.

The inside of the van is outfitted to look and function just as a physician’s office would. The mobile clinic has running hot and cold water, an eye wash sink and an exam table. It’s stocked with medical supplies from tongue depressors to syringes. The van labeled “Healthy Kids Outreach Program” and its equipment cost about $90,000.