St. Dominic’s reaffirms community health mission JACKSON — St. Dominic’s Hospital made a commitment to the Jackson community more than 60 years ago to provide health care services and education to all persons regardless of economic status or income. To fulfill this commitment, programs and services were begun to address the specific health needs of children, the elderly, the homeless and working poor — all of whom have limited access to mainstream health care sources.
Recently that original commitment was reaffirmed as St. Dominic Community Health Services dedicated a new Care-A-Van mobile screening unit to continue its community outreach efforts. The first Care-A-Van was purchased in the mid-1980s when St. Dominic’s developed a partnership with a local power company. Its purpose then was to provide physical exams for employees at the company’s Grand Gulf nuclear power plant 60 miles outside Jackson.
However, St. Dominic’s understood that prevention was the key to improving the overall health status of the Metro Jackson area and soon redirected the Care-A-Van and its purpose. The Care-A-Van health prevention program as it’s known today was established in 1986 with a commitment to provide health screenings and education programs, thereby addressing specific needs of the community.
St. Dominic Health Services President Sister Mary Dorothea Sondgeroth has seen the Care-A-Van grow to become a valuable community resource. “We see poverty increasing at an alarming rate within the Jackson metro area which leads to increased health risks and even less access to quality health care services,” she said.
Today, by serving primarily school-age children and the elderly, St. Dominic’s Care-A-Van program fulfills St. Dominic’s Christian mission within segments of the population where the impoverished and those with limited accessibility to health care dwell.
The van, its staff and volunteers travel to area public and parochial elementary schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, senior adult centers and Stewpot Community Center on a regular basis. St. Dominic’s Adopt-A-School — Hardy Middle School — significantly benefits from this service through basic health screenings.
In addition, when the Mississippi State Department of Health needs assistance with school vaccinations, St. Dominic’s Care-A-Van helps provide Hepatitis B vaccinations to children in higher risk areas. Primarily a preventive health program, the Care-A-Van screens school children for scoliosis, dental, vision and hearing problems and offers educational presentations on vital health and safety issues. Senior adults benefit from regular wellness programs or screenings for health problems such as glaucoma, cardiopulmonary function and high blood pressure.
The Care-A-Van also serves annually as a first aid station at Senior Olympics, a large local flea market and other community events where large numbers of people are present.
The new van was custom-crafted for St. Dominic’s by Armor Mobile Systems of Mason, Ohio. It stretches 42 feet in length and features upgraded equipment for all screenings including a soundproof audiometric booth to accurately test for hearing deficiencies.
“It is essential for the Care-A-Van program to get the most accurate results from our screenings and continuously improve the quality of the services we provide to the community,” says Sonya Walker, Care-A-Van director. “We understand that we are likely the only source of preventive care these children and seniors have, so it’s important to have the best tools possible so health issues can be identified early,” she added.
“Sonya and her staff work hard to identify specific health needs in very targeted areas so the program can have the greatest impact. St. Dominic’s is blessed to be able to serve our community in such a significant way and the new Care-A-Van will help continue this valuable ministry,” Sister Sondgeroth added.
In 2006, the Care-A-Van made 10,000 wellness contacts and provided screenings for 2,000 area children. The staff recorded over 2,300 hours of time dedicated to serving the community.
first Care-A-Van was purchased in the mid-1980s when St. Dominic’s developed a partnership with a local power company. Its purpose then was to provide physical exams for employees at the company’s Grand Gulf nuclear power plant 60 miles outside Jackson. 