Mobile Endocrinology Unit Expands Pediatric Care Access

A medical asstant smiling form the Mobile Care Center.

Mobile Endocrinology Unit Expands Pediatric Care Access

Delivering comprehensive pediatric endocrine care directly into local communities, the mobile unit reduces travel burdens, expands access, and provides seamless, clinic level services for families who need specialty support closer to home.

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Key Takeaways

Mobile endocrinology visits reduce travel burden and improve follow through for chronic care.
Onsite A1C testing and device uploads support complete diabetes management in one visit.
School-based location expands timely access for patients needing endocrinology referral.

Bringing Specialized Care Closer to Home Delivering Comprehensive Pediatric Endocrinology Services

Cincinnati Children's has launched a Mobile Care Center—an innovative way to increase access to specialized pediatric care for families in the region. Endocrinology is one of the services offered, providing comprehensive care for children and adolescents with endocrine disorders, such as:

Diabetes
Thyroid disorders
Growth hormone deficiency
Adrenal gland disorders
Puberty problems
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

The Mobile Care Center endocrinology unit is staffed by a team of pediatric endocrinologists, nurses and other healthcare professionals specially trained to care for these children.

Inside the Mobile Unit: A Familiar Experience, Closer to Home

Sarah Corathers, MD, clinical director of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, shares her insights into the unique advantages of the Mobile Care Center. "The great thing about the mobile care unit is it is really a clinic on wheels," she explains.

Care in the mobile unit mirrors the comprehensive services, including diabetes and general endocrine visits, provided in our stationary clinics. We have an interdisciplinary team capable of performing point-of-care lab testing, device uploads for continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pump analysis. The Mobile Care Center has a triage area, two private exam rooms, a small lab and a wheelchair lift. It provides a variety of services, including:

Consultations with a pediatric endocrinologist
Diagnostic testing
Treatment for endocrine disorders
Education and support for patients and families

The unit accepts all forms of insurance, and financial assistance is available to those who qualify.

The great thing about the mobile care unit is it is really a clinic on wheels. We've heard from families that it makes a huge difference because diabetes care is ideally structured around quarterly visits. So if you have to drive more than an hour to get to visits every three months—that's incredibly burdensome."

Sarah Corathers, MD

Seamless Integration for Optimal Care

Corathers highlights the unit's capacity to manage diabetes care effectively. "We're able to do diabetes clinic visits specifically," she notes, emphasizing the inclusion of a diabetes educator and the ability to conduct essential lab tests like hemoglobin A1C on-site. Since the unit started in July 2023, the clinic has seen approximately 29 patients.

The staff also can securely access patient medical records, ensuring seamless integration with care at Cincinnati Children's main hospital. This integrated approach ensures that patients receive the same level of care as they would at any Cincinnati Children's location, but with the added benefit of proximity for the patient.

Convenience is Key: Eliminating Travel Burden

One major advantage of the Mobile Care Center model is the convenience for families. The mobile unit eliminates the travel burden for families in outlying areas.

"We've heard from families that it makes a huge difference because diabetes care is ideally structured around quarterly visits,” Corathers says. “So if you have to drive more than an hour to get to visits every three months—that's incredibly burdensome."

Strategic Partnerships for Enhanced Reach

The endocrinology team strategically chose their first Mobile Care Center location at West Clermont High School to reach families without proximate access to specialized care. West Clermont is a large school district with over 8,500 students, which is expected to increase by 1,000 within the next year. They have seven elementary, one middle and one high school. The location is used as a hub for the eastern region, which not only sees West Clermont students but also children around the area. The partnership with the school district has been invaluable.

"We chose West Claremont as a location because of the school district there, and in particular, the school nurses were very enthusiastic about having us. They’ve been terrific partners,” she says.

Shaping the Future of Pediatric Care

Though still new, the Mobile Care Center endocrinology unit has already had a positive impact on Cincinnati Children's patients. It reflects an innovative model of care that brings compassionate, specialized pediatric services directly to families in need. This creative approach looks to shape equitable pediatric medicine's future in our region.

To learn more about our endocrinology services, call us at 513-636-4744.

(Published May 2024)

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