Below is a transcript of our conversation with Kathleen Hodgkins, Director, Clinical Services, CARLS Center for Clinical Care and Education
David Nicholas:
I'm David Nicholas, and this is Central Focus, a weekly look at research activity and innovative work from Central Michigan University students and faculty. Two weeks ago, we heard about grant funding for Mobile Health Central, making it possible for them to add satellite capabilities and increase reach in Central and Northern Michigan. I was talking with Kathleen Hodgkins. She's Director of Clinical Services for CMU's Carl Center. And during that sit-down, she talked about even more money that can now be put towards services offered on board the 39-foot truck…
So, on top of that, and you've mentioned then that the sports physicals now will be a free service with the grant funding behind that. And pairs of grants or a set of grants, it seems like it's a very good, fortunate time for all of you folks. What else in terms of grant funding is going to go Towards what more services? What are the plans for the grants that you've received?
Kathleen Hodgkins:
Well, we're (we're) in the we're in the early stages, so the first grant with the Talsey Foundation this year is planning and the sports physicals, and if we can, we'd like to be able to expand and maybe partner with some local health departments to offer immunizations in collaboration or in the same time frame as the sports physicals with families, so it's not just the athletes. We did just receive our first endowment from Gary Russell, who's a huge supporter within the College of Health Professions as well. And so, we're very excited to see, you know, different opportunities. He recently helped fund a pilot program of a mobile health library where we went to the Ionia Community Library where we worked with young children and had a couple book readings on that focus on health. and physical activity. So, we did some yoga demonstration. They got to listen, or the kids got to listen to their heart and lungs. We had a dietitian with us from the College of Medicine, and we had a healthy snack. You know, they got to make their own healthy snack. And so that was a really cool experience through, that generous donation. And so, we're really excited about the possibilities of mobile health.
DN:
When you say pilot, then obviously there would be the hope that you can start arranging stops on the road similar to that in a lot of other communities then…
KH:
Absolutely. I think with the help of the endowment, I think that we'll be able to do lots more things like that.
DN:
It's 39 feet, as you said, and there is the soundproof booth for the audiology services. There's the multi-purpose examination rooms. It is handicapped accessible, and there is storage for the vaccinations, medication, blood samples. And I'm trying to envision, with the fortunate benefit of these grants, is there a hope that? Is there any way you can build on to this wonderful truck or is there a hope that maybe there would be a second unit down the road? Are there plans kind of at least down in the future of expanding this even more by having additional vehicles?
KH:
That's a great question, and I don't have an answer to that.
DN:
People above our pay grade are probably the ones making the decision on the truck!
KH:
Well, you know, there's a lot of discussion at the state and national level about rural health and mobile health, really. Mobile health associations are, and there's lots of grant opportunities and things like that. And so, I think it's just going to depend on the way our health systems health systems are going. And so, we'll have to see. But so far, I mean, right now, this is really exciting for Mid-Michigan and the College of Health Professions here at Central. And I'm excited to be part of it.
DN:
Well, great opportunity for them and certainly very vital and needed services in a lot of the rural areas. across central and northern Michigan in particular. And now with the grant to bring in the satellite internet access and others that are adding in to expand the services and streamline those services, all the things that we've talked about, a lot of great news and a lot of congratulations. Kate, very much appreciate you taking the time to be here with us and thank you.
KH:
Thank you. Glad to be here.
