Community Action Partnership’s health screening program provides low-income, uninsured and underinsured county residents aged 50 and older, with competent, convenient and free preventive and maintenance health screening, education and referrals for health issues in San Luis Obispo County. It is the only no-cost, mobile health screening program for adults 50 and older in the county.
SHS is a mobile program that provides free services at 17 clinic sites on a pre-designated and advertised day of the month. To ensure all adults in need of services are reached, clinics are held at various locations countywide: four in north county, six in south county, four in the north coast, and three in the City of San Luis Obispo. Clinic sites include churches, senior centers, residential facilities and other sites where seniors already gather for meal programs, exercise classes, religious services or socializing. By providing clinics at sites where other senior services are being provided, Community Action Partnership ensures that the highest numbers of seniors are served. The program is managed by Heather Murphy, registered nurse, and provides bilingual staff to better assist clients to understand their health screening results.
Providing adults with easily accessible screening and informational services gives them insight regarding their health status, which assists them in making necessary lifestyle changes or to seek additional assistance that will allow them to maintain or improve their health. This was demonstrated when a regular client learned through a visit to Heather that her hemoglobin level was very low and had dropped significantly from her previous test. Heather immediately referred the client back to her physician. Her physician found that she had an internal bleeding ulcer and treated it immediately. She later followed up with Heather and subsequent testing revealed a return to a normal hemoglobin reading. Because of the screening and immediate referral, she felt significantly better and able to walk around the park with her walker, something she was previously too weak to do.
In another case, the clinic saw a 53-year-old truck driver with no insurance who had complaints of feeling fatigued to the point where some days he could not operate his truck. Heather discovered that he had very high blood sugar and blood pressure. He was then referred to the Community Health Clinics to see a doctor immediately with a note reporting Heather’s findings. If he had not come to the clinic he could have suffered serious consequences such as a stroke or heart attack. In addition due to his elevated blood sugar he even risked the chance of losing consciousness while driving.
By bringing services directly to adults, the program ensures that their health is checked regularly and conditions are made a priority. In a recent survey, 57 percent of clients reported that the program was their only source of preventative and/or maintenance health service and 99 percent reported they attend the Community Action Partnership clinic either due to the convenient locations and/or low-cost screenings. Increased access to health maintenance and early identification of problems promotes independence and quality of life, and helps delay or avoid costly hospitalizations or long-term care.
For more information regarding Adult Health Screenings or for the nearest location, please contact the Health Screening Nurse, Heather Murphy at (805) 544-2484.
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