Mobile Healthcare Services Offered Beneath Minimal Threshold for Treatment on Highways
Mobile Medical Service Brings Essential Care to Mönchengladbach's Homeless Population
In the heart of Mönchengladbach, the 'Pflastermobil' team has been making a difference since January 2023. Stationed in front of the 'Pflaster' café on Kapuzinerstraße, this mobile medical service is a collaborative initiative between the Rotary Club Mönchengladbach and the Diakonie, a social welfare organization.
The 'Pflastermobil' project aims to provide low-threshold medical care directly to homeless and socially marginalized individuals, addressing their unique healthcare needs at regular intervals, specifically every two weeks on Saturdays. The team's objectives include offering medical care for common "street diseases" such as chronic wounds, respiratory illnesses, skin conditions, and dental pain, while building trust and reducing barriers to healthcare for those who typically do not engage with standard institutions like hospitals or clinics.
The mobile clinic also ensures accessibility by providing a predictable presence and conducting targeted visits to special shelters, like a women’s shelter roughly every three months, with specialized doctors attending. It's worth noting that most patients served are men.
The Pflastermobil offers essential healthcare otherwise difficult for homeless people to access, helping address urgent health issues on-site without requiring appointments or formal procedures. It fosters trust and familiarity between healthcare providers and homeless individuals, improving engagement with medical services. The project fills gaps left by traditional health systems for those who have fallen through the social safety net, thereby improving overall wellbeing and potentially preventing more serious health deterioration.
The 'Pflastermobil' team is equipped with medication, bandages, and other necessary supplies. The team comprises 76 volunteers, including 25 doctors, 36 healthcare professionals, and 15 drivers. Each team member spends four to five hours on duty and averages two deployments per year.
The 'Pflastermobil' is primarily financed through donations. Notable contributors include Michael Klein, who is involved in the funding of the project. The team's good network also extends to the Inner Wheel Club Mönchengladbach, which supports the women’s deployment at the women’s shelter every three months.
Dr. Ulrike van Bömmel, a key member of the team, explains that common 'street diseases' include chronic wounds, respiratory, and skin diseases. The first patients this morning were a man with a toothache and another who needed wound care. In such cases, Dr. van Bömmel states that the team would not recommend the man with toothache to go to the dentist on Monday, suggesting that traditional medical appointments are not feasible for this population.
Despite the challenges, the 'Pflastermobil' team continues to make a significant impact in reducing health inequalities among homeless people in Mönchengladbach by bringing healthcare directly to their environment and providing specialized, empathetic care at minimal barriers.
- The mobile medical service, Pflastermobil, specifically focuses on addressing health issues in chronic diseases, respiratory conditions, and skin conditions among Mönchengladbach's homeless and socially marginalized individuals.
- The Pflastermobil project also extends its services to mental health, offering care to those who typically avoid engaging with standard institutions like hospitals or clinics.
- Improving the overall health and wellness of the homeless population, the Pflastermobil team ensures access to nutrition advice and skin care services to tackle skin conditions.
- In addition to medical assistance, the Pflastermobil team conducts fitness and exercise programs designed to help combat the effects of homelessness on their patients' physical health.
- The mobile service's primary mission is not only to treat the immediate health concerns but also to foster a greater understanding of the importance of health and wellness maintenance across all aspects of life for homeless individuals in Mönchengladbach.
