CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine Program partners with new mobile medical clinic

PALM DESERT – The CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine Program has been selected to partner with a new community mobile clinic in the Coachella Valley.

The mobile clinic – the result of collaborative efforts between the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation, Coachella Valley Resource Conservation District, Desert Physicians Medical Group (DPMG) Health, and other community partners – was unveiled at Desert Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in Palm Springs on Dec. 2.

The new mobile clinic is a 26-foot vehicle with two examination rooms, a full bathroom and other amenities. It will be licensed and operated by DPMG Health, providing services to traditionally underserved communities across the Coachella Valley.

Nursing faculty and students from the CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine Program will perform mental health assessments and report the results to a psychiatric nurse practitioner who will interview patients online and prescribe medications. The nursing faculty and students will give medications to patients from the on-site supply of medications provided by the DRMC pharmacy program and pharmacy residents.

The CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine Program will also provide nurse clinics and foot soaks to the vulnerable populations served by the mobile unit.

“We are so grateful to the District and DPMG for the opportunity to provide unique behavioral health telehealth services to the vulnerable populations in the valley and increase the availability of psychiatric medications for persons with mental health and substance abuse issues,” said Diane Vines, CSUSB nursing faculty and director of the CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine Program. “I’d also like to thank the Houston Family Foundation for funding the behavioral health activities that the Nursing Street Medicine team will provide.”

For more information about the CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine Program, contact Diane Vines at diane.vines@csusb.edu or 503-819-4285.

Photo caption above:

Members of the CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine Program pose in front of a new mobile medical clinic at the unveiling and ribbon-cutting ceremony in Palm Springs, Calif. on Dec. 2.

From L to R: Danny Castaneda, Veronica Cretsinger, Sayaff Eid, Jessica Rodriguez, Alexis Molina Gonzalez, Diane Vines, Sarah Harrington, Julie Suriano, Nallely Herrera, Matthew Morse, Catherine Lievanos.

Image Sources

  • Street Medicine Program: CSUSB