Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Trillium Health opens mobile clinic for ‘underserved communities’

Trillium's mobile health clinic resembles an RV on the outside, but health care providers says it has everything a brick-and-mortar clinic would have on the inside.
Trillium Health
Trillium's mobile health clinic resembles an RV on the outside, but health care providers says it has everything a brick-and-mortar clinic would have on the inside.

Trillium Health, a Rochester health care provider whosemission focuses on health equity and care for the LGBTQ community, has opened a mobile clinic.

“In the spirit of increasing access to judgment-free care, we are proud to expand our services,” Trillium CEO Andrea DeMeo said in an email.

The vehicle resembles an extra-long RV and houses two exam rooms, a waiting area and a restroom.

Trillium initially plans to cycle it through four sites in Rochester, with more slated for next year.

One of those planned parking spots is outside the Out Alliance, a community space and advocacy group for the LGBTQ community.

The alliance’s communications director, Tamara Leigh, said having health care available at the community space is important because it will serve a population that faces sometimesprofound health care disparities.

Because health insurance is often attached to employment, the elevated rates of unemployment among people served by the Out Alliance contribute to a lack of access to care.

“In the trans community in particular, especially the trans community of color, there is an incredible epidemic of employment discrimination,” she said. “Because of fear, because of stigma, because of not understanding, because of plain old discrimination -- all of those things become barriers to health care.”

Trillium said it also hopes to reach underserved youth populations with the mobile clinic.

“Providing barrier-free clinical services to youth who are vulnerable and often without adult support is the highest form of social justice,” said Elaine Spaull who directs Rochester’s Center for Youth, another one of the clinic’s anticipated parking spots.

“This partnership with Trillium’s new mobile clinic van brings us the service and support that is much needed,” Spaull said.

Brett was the health reporter and a producer at WXXI News. He has a master’s degree from the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism.