Low-income and uninsured residents of Charlotte County who lack transportation or are unable to travel can now receive medical care that will come to them.
A $750,000 grant from the Board of Charlotte County Commissioners launched the Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic Mobile Medical Clinic, and its first ribbon-cutting was celebrated March 28.
The mobile clinic will provide essential health care services to uninsured individuals with incomes less than 200% of the poverty level.
Angelica Asperilla is coordinator of the Mobile Medical Clinic. Her father, the late Dr. Mark Asperilla, an infectious disease specialist, co-founded the clinic with the late Dr. David Klein, a local ophthalmologist who was a close friend of Asperilla’s.
Members of the public, county, school board, city officials and Punta Gorda and Charlotte County chambers of commerce representatives were on hand for the clinic’s latest milestone. On April 18, a second ribbon-cutting for the mobile clinic will be held at the Tringali Park Recreation Center parking lot from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Englewood. That event also is open to the public.
In addition to its primary mission of providing regular medical services to the uninsured population of Charlotte County, the Mobile Medical Clinic also will serve as a critical resource during emergencies and disaster recovery efforts. By mobilizing health care resources directly to affected areas, the clinic aims to enhance community resilience and support individuals in times of crisis, said Suzanne Roberts, VBA Clinic CEO.
The Mobile Medical Clinic is equipped with two state-of-the-art treatment rooms and a limited pharmacy and will operate in fixed locations throughout the county, with scheduled services from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and Englewood.
On Thursdays and Fridays, the clinic will be supported by the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County to further extend its reach and impact within the community.
“I congratulate the staff and volunteer medical professionals at the Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic on the launch of their Mobile Medical Clinic,” said Charlotte County Commissioner Chair Bill Truex. “We’re proud to have provided a $750,000 grant to fund the mobile clinic to bring urgently needed medical care to the community with this innovative initiative.”
“This innovative Mobile Medical Clinic will revolutionize health care access for the uninsured population of Charlotte County by bringing vital medical services directly to those in need. This initiative underscores the clinic’s commitment to addressing health care disparities and ensuring that all members of the community have access to quality medical care,” said Robin Bayne, president of the VBA Clinic board of directors.
The clinic’s partners include Charlotte Behavioral Health Care, Charlotte County Homeless Coalition, Charlotte County Family Services Center, Charlotte County Transit, Charlotte Desoto Building Industry Association, Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County, Jesus Loves You Ministry, St. Mary Baptist Church, Operation Cooper Street / YMCA and the Tringali Park Recreation Center.
“We look forward to many more partnerships in the days ahead. Together, we will work to address broader health care issues and implement targeted interventions tailored to the needs of our Charlotte community,” Roberts said.
The VBA Clinic, 21297 Olean Blvd. in Port Charlotte, got its start when the late Virginia B. Andes donated $1 million to Charlotte Community Foundation toward a clinic known at the time as the St. Vincent de Paul Community Health Clinic, which was renamed in 2008.
