Mobile telehealth unit will boost access to care for underserved Molokai residents

Molokai Community Health Center, the only federally qualified health center on the island, has launched Mana Mobile Medical Clinic, a mobile telehealth unit. 

The mobile clinic aims to increase access to and delivery of telehealth services for the island’s 7,400 residents, especially those residing in rural areas and older adults with mobility issues, a news release said.

The Mana Mobile Medical Clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and located at Maunaloa Community Center. Appointments are not required but encouraged and walk-ins are welcome.

The Mana Mobile Medical Clinic is outfitted with one exam room, a restroom, vaccine refrigeration, a blood draw station and live electronic medical record integration. It will be staffed by a mobile health team comprised of a physician and registered nurse and one community health care worker. 

Onboard services will include preventative health screenings, all primary care services including acute care and chronic disease management, vaccine administration and health education.

The clinic also has the technology and equipment to connect patients virtually through video appointments to off-island specialists. 

Molokai’s community faces significant infrastructure and broadband connectivity challenges, particularly in its remote and rural areas, the release said. The Mana Mobile Medical Clinic will provide broadband access to residents and families with no internet service, allowing access to specialists through telehealth for the first time.

The mobile medical clinic is part of the Community Health Worker program and will enable Molokai Community Health Center to serve residents who may not otherwise have access to medical care due to a lack of transportation, stable housing, mobility and/or internet and technology access.

Helen Kekalia, CEO of Molokai Community Health Center CEO, praised the mobile clinic.

“At Molokai Community Health Center, we deliver high-quality, affordable care to thousands of residents islandwide,” she said in the release. “We’re excited to expand access to that care beyond the walls of our health center through the Mana Mobile Medical Clinic. We will continue to innovate to advance health equity and meet the unique needs of our community.”