Lee Health opens new mobile care clinic

Unit will provide primary care services; can mobilize to serve patients during emergencies

Lee Health opened a new mobile health-care clinic solution for Southwest Floridians April 22 built by global critical infrastructure leader Black & Veatch.

Now stationed at Veterans Park in Lehigh Acres, the 36-foot unit will support an advanced provider, nurse and customer service representative can be mobilized throughout Lee County in the event of emergencies, pressing needs or major incidents requiring medical attention.

With two exam rooms, a central reception area, wheelchair lift and state-of-the-art equipment and devices, the unit will be open three days a week – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday – and serve as a family medicine walk-in clinic.

Patients can make appointments or walk in for primary care treatment, including illnesses and common conditions. Some testing also can be done onsite.

The unit was designed to be durable, secure and resilient to assist in emergency situations and events. The mobile unit also includes a variety of features to ensure that it can run entirely on its own:

• An oversized freshwater tank with a redundant pumping system to allow for maximum versatility and an onboard full-feature air purification system;

• The ability to run independently of the power grid yet access power directly when the unit is able to connect to the grid;

• More than four kilowatts of rooftop solar power and 28 kilowatt hours of battery energy storage, with a redundant backup generator supporting the power supply;

• 5G high-speed connectivity using multiple carriers for redundancy if broadband is down.

The mobile unit’s creation was made possible thanks to state funding, championed by State Sen. Jonathan Martin in recognition of the need for mobile health care following Hurricane Ian.

“We are excited to open this new mobile health-care clinic. It will be able to provide Southwest Florida residents and visitors with the services they need in a place that’s convenient for them and it will be able to assist in all types of emergency situations,” said Lee Health president and CEO Dr. Larry Antonucci.

“It’s a win-win. We are passionate about ensuring that everyone in Southwest Florida has access to medical care, and this mobile unit will help us accomplish that.” “This solution reflects our passion for delivering meaningful innovation that enhances lives, in this case by bringing important health care services to communities in need,” said Dave Johnson, a leader in Black & Veatch’s innovation initiatives. “In the wake of recent emergencies, Black & Veatch has led the way in mobile and modular solutions, leveraging our vast experience and ingenuity to make a difference.”