Mobile health unit to serve Cass County
Special Health Resources, a healthcare organization serving the East Texas region and based out of Longview, is currently doing a project that will serve the entirety of Cass County. They received a grant from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to address chronic maternal health issues and the lack of maternity healthcare options in this area.
Through their analysis, they identified Cass County as a priority area, as 52 percent of women in the region require maternity services. Special Health Resources believes this highlights a critical need and presents an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
Their goal is to expand its services to support these women in need, addressing the pressing issue of inadequate access to women’s healthcare services and promoting healthier outcomes for mothers in the region.
The data sources are countyhealthrankings. org, Health Rankings and Roadmaps, as well as the March of Dimes report titled “Where You Live Matters: Maternity Care Access in Texas, 2023.”
They deploy its mobile health unit every Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following locations in Cass County: first and third Tuesday of the month (108 W. 2nd St., Hughes Springs), second Tuesday of the month (302 S. Main St., Linden), fourth Tuesday of the month (The WIC office at 211 N Pinecrest Dr., Atlanta) and if there is a fifth Tuesday (302 S. Main St., Linden).
Services Offered:
- Contraceptive services (pregnancy prevention and birth spacing), including Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs), oral contraceptive pills, three-month (medroxyprogesterone) injections, and sterilizations.
- Pregnancy testing and counseling. - Health screenings and diagnostics, if feasible, such as breast cancer screening (clinical breast exams), cervical cancer screening (Pap smears and other cervical cancer screenings), and screenings for hypertension, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol.
- Pharmaceutical treatment for postpartum depression, hypertension, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol, as well as preconception health (e.g., screening for nutrition and obesity, tobacco and substance use, other high-risk behaviors, social issues, and mental health).
- Sexually transmitted infection (STI) services, including screening and treatment for chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV.
They accept Medicaid, Medicare and most major private insurance plans. If you don’t have private insurance, they also offer programs to assist with your visit. They will not turn anyone away and will take care of you, regardless of your financial situation.
They have been serving the community for a year, having started in July 2024, but have not seen the number of patients they believe they should be helping. Therefore, they are reaching out for support. This is a great blessing for the Cass County community.