Middlebury’s Open Door Clinic (ODC) has long served uninsured and underinsured residents of Addison County, Vermont. Thanks to a new mobile medical van, ODC will be able to provide care directly to more residents, especially those in remote rural areas.
The clinic has been working for over a year to secure funding for the van. After jumping through bureaucratic hoops, ODC pieced together grants and donations totaling $158,000, which was enough to purchase and outfit a new Mercedes Sprinter.
With an exam table, privacy curtains, and storage space, the van allows providers to conduct confidential exams and consultations on-site at farms, orchards, and businesses. This removes transportation barriers for patients who cannot easily travel to the clinic, like migrant farm workers.
In addition to the mobile van, ODC continues to innovate in serving vulnerable populations. The clinic offers support groups and yoga for migrant women adjusting to life in Vermont. And as the local migrant workforce shifts into new industries like landscaping and hospitality, ODC aims to be there to provide care.
After 30 years, ODC remains deeply committed to its mission of providing free healthcare to uninsured county residents. The new van will allow ODC to further break down barriers of language, culture, transportation, and geography — reaching more people who need care.
Read the full article in The Addison County Independent.