The Desert Healthcare District & Foundation's mobile medical clinic recently made its inaugural visit to the Palm Springs Navigation Center. The clinic, operated by staff from Desert Physicians Medical Group (DPMG), provided medical attention to 11 adults over a three-hour period. These individuals are among more than 60 unhoused people with long-term accommodations at the center, which offers various support services.
Connie Stewart, who has been homeless since moving from North Carolina to the Coachella Valley in July, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to consult a provider about her knee issues. Stewart highlighted the difficulties she faced using public transportation due to her physical condition.
Victoria Scuro, who arrived at the Palm Springs Navigation Center on December 5 with her two cats, noted that it was the only facility that accepted pets. Unable to work due to a disability, Scuro welcomed the mobile clinic as she waits for Social Security benefits.
Travis Rogers had previously accessed the mobile clinic at a church in Palm Springs and appreciated its proximity of less than 800 feet from his lodgings at the center. "It's much easier and private," he said.
The mobile clinic will visit the Navigation Center on the first Wednesday of each month. It will offer primary care, mental healthcare, and pharmacology services as needed, according to Alejandro Espinoza, chief of community engagement with the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation. Espinoza stated that shelter is an essential social determinant of health and provides a foundation for addressing other healthcare needs.
In 2022, the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation launched its first mobile clinic and added a second one a year later to include medications and behavioral health services. These clinics were funded through grants from the Coachella Valley Resource Conservation District and regularly serve traditionally underserved residents across the valley.
Chris Christensen, CEO of Desert Healthcare District & Foundation, emphasized that mobile clinics have become crucial in improving healthcare access by removing barriers such as unreliable transportation and affordability. "Expanding the program to include the Palm Springs Navigation Center as a monthly destination takes this outreach to the next level," Christensen said.
The Palm Springs Navigation Center opened in 2024 along McCarthy Road in northern Palm Springs. Staffed by Martha's Village and Kitchen, it also provides overnight shelter for 50 to 55 individuals seeking temporary accommodation.