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H.O.P.E. stands for "Healthcare, Oral health, Prevention and
Education."
The first mobile health care van began rolling the roads of Logan
County in 1998, bringing basic health care services to qualifying
people who lack a primary care physician, insurance or are unable to
travel. Fundraising for a replacement van began two years ago as
repairs started to get costly.
[click on picture for larger image]
This last spring Healthy Communities Partnership director Kristi
Lessen said that in studying the health care needs of the Logan
County population, oral health stood out as the current greatest
need.
During her research to address that need, Lessen learned that the
mobile unit could be designed to include dental services to
qualifying Logan County youth.
As many as 800 children in Logan County currently are in need of
preventive oral health services but go without due to lack of access
to dental providers. Left untreated, oral health diseases can lead
to illness throughout the rest of the body. Children with oral
health problems miss 12 times as many days of school as children
with good oral health.
According to the Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation, the new
H.O.P.E. Mobile improves access to care for people of all ages from
throughout Logan County.
Contributions for the $340,000 mobile unit came from a variety of
sources. Major contributors were the Illinois Children's Healthcare
Foundation, the Eaton Charitable Foundation, SIU School of Medicine,
the Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation, Logan County and the
estate of Miss Hilda Humphreys of Clinton.
Speakers, some with chattering teeth and shivering, opted to keep
their comments short. Most powerful in her words was the person most
responsible in expanding the mobile van to include dental services:
Kristi Lessen.
Lessen emphasized the connection between the hope that the new
service brings to Logan County residents and her deeper
understanding of hope as provided by family and friends while
getting through a difficult time the last couple of months.
[Lessen was in an accident on Labor Day weekend in which she lost
her husband and she sustained injuries from which she has not yet
fully recovered.]
She gave a hearty thank-you to each of the major contributors.
Below is a summary of comments made by a few of the speakers:
- Julie Janssen, acting chief, Division of Oral Health,
Illinois Department of Public Health
Janssen expressed appreciation at how
all the community here pulls together and is glad to be a part of
providing continuing oral health care to youth of Logan County.
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- Dr. Julio Morales, D.D.S.
Dr. Morales (a guy from the tropics
with the chills) has volunteered to work one Friday per month.
He said that a CDC study showed that 2-
to 11-year-olds have 41 percent tooth decay in baby teeth. By age 19
that figure has increased to 90 percent decay in permanent teeth.
"There is a need for prevention," he said.
He said that he is pleased to be part
of this program, lucky to be part of the Logan County community and
appreciates all the efforts of Logan County health participants.
- Mary Southerlan, 23 years as a dental hygienist, now serving
on the H.O.P.E. Mobile
Southerlan said that it's her first
experience in public health. She's very excited about going on this
adventure and hopes to increase awareness in the community about the
importance of a healthy mouth.
- Scott Goodman, Eaton (Cutler-Hammer) Corp.
Goodman, speaking on behalf of Eaton
Corp, said that the company is proud to be a part of Logan
County for 50 years and glad to give back to the community.
The mobile unit will continue to be staffed by registered nurses
and a family nurse practitioner. They will continue to offer a wide
variety of medical services, such as blood sugar, tuberculosis,
blood level and allergy tests; blood pressure checks; immunizations
and vaccines; treatment of respiratory infections and chronic
conditions; wound care; medication management; school sport
physicals; and more.
Services from the mobile unit are offered on a qualifying basis
for a minimal fee or free.
The H.O.P.E. Mobile travels to Hartsburg, Atlanta, New Holland,
Elkhart, Mount Pulaski, Chestnut Middletown, Emden and Lincoln. On
Nov. 17 the van will be in Latham Park in Lincoln for its first
dental day.
The new services will include dental exams, cleaning, sealants
and digital X-rays for the 17-and-under age group.
You can contact the Logan County Health Department to schedule
appointments and get more information on dental or any of the other
services that the agency provides. The LCHD is located at 109 Third
St. in Lincoln. Call 217-735-2317 for more information.
[Jan
Youngquist]
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