The KidCare Express Mobile Medical Unit Program

The KidCare Express mobile medical unit program provides health services to medically underserved children, youth and adults in collaboration with local schools, community centers, social service agencies and neighborhood health fairs.

The KidCare Express mobile medical units are fully licensed medical clinics on wheels staffed with physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and support staff.  These Mobile Medical Units are 40-foot, self-contained vehicles with two private exam rooms, a nursing station/triage area, and a restroom.

Reimbursement is received from a variety of health care programs: Medi-Cal; CHDP (Children’s Health Disability Prevention Program); EAPC (Expanded Access for Primary Care); Healthcare for the Homeless; and Family PACT (Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment). 

No one is ever denied medical services based on their inability to pay.

Success Stories....

  • For months, school staff at Spring Valley Elementary School had noticed John’s steady academic decline. Last year, he was an “A” student. John’s behavior had changed drastically from first grade to the second, and his self-esteem was at an all time low. This year, he was exhibiting strange behaviors - snapping his fingers uncontrollably, blinking his eyes frequently and becoming severely agitated, often to the point of swearing.

    John’s teacher notified the school administration of John’s behavior change. The Health Aide contacted John’s mother, who was concerned about seeing a health care provider because the family did not have insurance. The Health Aide informed the family that KidCare Express visits Spring Valley Elementary every other Wednesday morning and provides health care services regardless of the ability to pay. The Health Aide arranged for an appointment and John was seen within the week.

    KidCare Express staff went right to work, each one focusing on their area of expertise. The registration person, Bill, noted that John and his family qualified for Healthy Families and arranged for the family to receive medical insurance application assistance from one of Family Health Centers of San Diego’s Healthy Families application assistors. While Bill was working with the Mom arranging an appointment, the Nurse Practitioner, Sarah, began her assessment. Noting that John’s behavior was definitely not that of a normal 7 year-old, Sarah began a series of tests. After the exam, laboratory results and consultation with our pediatrician confirmed Sarah’s diagnosis, an appointment to see a neurologist was arranged. With his Healthy Families insurance in hand, John went to see the neurologist and then a Behavioral Sciences Specialist at Children’s Hospital.

    Within a few months of being seen on the MMU, John’s situation had changed dramatically. His once declining academic performance was now improving. Staff was excited to see the 360-degree change in John, as well as the relief in his family that things were on an upward trend. John continues to be seen on KidCare Express, now with his head held high and a big smile on his face, even though he still doesn’t like getting his shots.

  • Many of the children seen at our school sites are behind in both required immunizations and routine physical exams. For many of these children, KidCare Express is the only ‘vehicle’ to access these healthcare services that most of us consider basic and commonplace. But for one child seen at Cesar Chavez Elementary School, the routine physical examination revealed health problems that had a significant impact on his ability to function in everyday life and to be successful at school. During 5-year-old Juan’s CHDP exam, the Provider recognized that Juan had impaired hearing and vision, limitations that had not been previously identified. Juan was immediately linked up with FHCSD’s early childhood intervention, speech and hearing, and optometry services. Juan now has his own special pair of glasses and a hearing aide, and is doing much better in his classwork.
  • KidCare Express staff are sometimes in a position to identify children who have been the victims of child abuse and neglect. One such child is 4-year-old Gabriella, who was staying at the Family Shelter with her 19-year-old father. Staff noted that Gabriella was very small for her age, had not reached several of the expected developmental milestones, and was covered, head to toe, with a rash. Her father shared that he recently assumed care of Gabriella as her mother was in jail. He admitted to feeling overwhelmed and inadequate in his new parental role and was eager for advice and assistance. After tending to Gabriella’s rash, KidCare Express staff contacted Child Protective Services and arranged for Gabriella and her father to meet with a caseworker who would provide ongoing supportive and enabling services.
  • Another child at the Cold Weather Family Shelter received life-saving care. Shelter staff came out to the MMU late one afternoon concerned about a 2-year-old child that had been sleeping for several hours without much movement and was "hot" to the touch. Leaving the MMU, the Nurse Practitioner examined the child finding him lethargic, with a 105 degree temperature, and so dehydrated he was unable to cry. The child was immediately transported to the nearest Emergency Room where his condition was stabilized, then admitted to Scripps Mercy Hospital for further care. After a ten-day course of antibiotics, he was discharged back to his mother at the Family Shelter. This child was lucky; had KidCare staff not been there to recognize the severity of his illness, the outcome might have been dramatically different.
  • It is at the night-time street clinic sites that KidCare Express staff face some of their biggest challenges. Wendy is a good example. Wendy is 19 years old and had spent the past two years of her life on the street. With little education and minimal opportunity for steady employment, she has resorted to prostitution as a way to obtain money for food and shelter. Like most young girls involved in "survival sex", Wendy was attached to a pimp who managed all of her affairs and controlled and restricted everything she did. Outreach workers had seen Wendy on the streets on many occasions but had never been very successful in enticing her to use the MMU. One night, though, Wendy was found curled up in the bushes at nearby Balboa Park. She had been beaten up once again by her pimp; but this time, he had told her he was done with her, and she was on her own. She was badly bruised, cold, hungry, and most importantly, very scared. Staff brought her to the MMU where the physician cleaned her up and bandaged her wounds. From there, the Outreach Workers began to work on her other "wounds", took her to a safe and secure place to sleep, and introduced her to a case manager who would work with Wendy as she begins to make the transition from the street to a more healthy and stable lifestyle.
  • More typical of the youth seen at the street sites is John. He is 15 years old and lives with his parents in North Park. When we first met John, he could be found out on the street every night; many times as late as midnight or 1 am. He seemed to be hanging out with kids much older than himself, and often boasted about his independence and ability to take care of himself. One night John decided to come to the MMU. He was by himself, which was unusual, and asked to see one of the peer educators, who just happened to go to the same high school. John reluctantly shared that he may have a sexually transmitted disease, and was worried about what it might be and what it might mean. Staff moved quickly to provide John with appropriate STD counseling and education, and arranged for him to see the medical provider on duty that night. John’s test results actually came back negative, but the valuable and important educational lessons will remain with him. More importantly, John’s interactions with the peer educator and KidCare Express have continued and he is now exploring how he can prepare himself to become a peer educator .

...the big bus to better health.

For more information about the KidCare Express
Call (619) 515-2372