MADISON — Mobile medical clinics are a critical way to ensure patients in need receive vital services.
On October 8 and 9, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison will host a visit from First Care Clinic, the clinic arm of Care Net Pregnancy Center.
Visitors will have the chance to tour the clinic and meet First Care staff. No services will be offered on those days.
The clinic will be available for tours following all Masses (Mass times are 5 p.m., Saturday; and 8, 9:30, and 11:15 a.m., Sunday).
“We’re pleased to have the chance to increase awareness of this wonderful resource,” said Msgr. Larry Bakke, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace. “We are committed to helping women facing an unplanned pregnancy and want them to know there is help available to them.”
Serving women
First Care launched its mobile clinic in 2018 and now serves roughly a quarter of its patients at a mobile location.
The clinic serves women four days a week at five locations: Janesville, Wisconsin Dells, Sun Prairie, Madison, and Fitchburg.
The three-room, 40-foot mobile medical clinic offers limited obstetric ultrasound, early pregnancy testing and verification, prenatal vitamins, express BadgerCare enrollment, community referrals, and STI testing and treatment for women.
All services are completely confidential and offered free of charge.
The decision to launch the clinic was the result of First Care’s investigation into the barriers to women using its MacArthur Rd. clinic on Madison’s east side.
One that quickly rose to the top of the list: A lack of transportation.
“When we talked to moms who were in need of our services, we often found it was difficult for them to get to our brick-and-mortar clinic,” said Sara Patterson, CEO of Care Net. “We decided to do something about it.”
Clinic locations
First Care Clinic’s mobile unit is currently available Monday to Thursday at the following locations:
- Mondays: Alternates between 50 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy. in Wisconsin Dells and 2707 Bond Pl. in Janesville.
- Tuesdays: 2924 Fish Hatchery Rd., Fitchburg.
- Wednesdays: 5256 Verona Rd., Madison.
- Thursdays: 1632 W. Main St., Sun Prairie.
First Care’s main clinic is at 1350 MacArthur Rd. in Madison.
That location is also home to The Elizabeth House, which offers housing and support to homeless pregnant women and their babies, and Care Net, which provides a wide variety of services including parenting classes, clothing and other material goods, and access to social workers and counseling.
To set up an appointment at either the mobile or MacArthur Rd. clinics, call or text 608-259-1605 or visit firstcareclinic.org