ABC22/FOX45: Wright State to launch mobile primary care project in Dayton

In just a few months, Wright State University’s Mobile Street Medicine Project will launch a new way to bring health care to the underserved community, especially people with substance use disorders.

This will not only bring local organizations together but also provide new firsthand experience to health care students.

“Is there anything like this in Dayton, we realized there’s not, which is strange because there’s such a tremendous need,” said Sydney Silverstein, assistant professor at the Boonshoft School of Medicine.

Sydney Silverstein told Dayton 24/7 Now’s, Kysha Hancock, the university, Dayton Dream Center and Premier Health will work together to bridge the primary care gap for underserved people in the community.

Adults and children already using services at the Dream Center can receive services, along with other Daytonians.

“Dayton and Montgomery County has done an amazing job providing resources and support to people who are struggling with drug use and who want substance use treatment but there is less options for people who need their primary needs addressed,” said Silverstein.

By early April, they plan to have a van in the Dream Center’s parking lot to help sign people up for insurance, conduct health screenings and figure out what their health needs are, all with the help of Wright State students in the medical and behavioral health fields.

“If you’re someone who’s worked really hard to manage your substance use disorder and you stop using drugs maybe you don’t have a place where you’re comfortable going to get some primary care,” said Silverstein.

Silverstein said the vision for this project came to them about a year ago and they’re excited to finally put it to work because there’s a big need for these services in the City of Dayton.

“We’re hoping with the mobile health unit, we’ll be able to provide primary care and then draw the existing relationships we have so that the people who work with substance misuse and mental health throughout the community, people have their primary care health needs addressed we can then link them to substance use and mental health treatment,” said Silverstein.

Read the complete story at dayton247now.com.