Health Needs Being Addressed in Alta in Consultation with UCHC
The May meeting of the Alta Horizons Steering Committee was an insightful and exciting meeting as committee members listened to a United Community Health Center speaker shared information about the local (Storm Lake) access to health services for the insured and uninsured.
Several ideas to make affordable health care accessible to Alta residents who need it were discussed in dialogue with the representative from UCHC: (1) making a nurse available in an Alta facility starting with 1 morning a month; (2) utilizing a Spanish-speaking advocate from the west side trailer home park in Alta for those within in the Hispanic community who need to be made aware of what is available; (3) in June, sports physicals and kindergarten physicals are going to be made available at a set fee of $30 without immunizations. Bus transportation to UCHC is being considered. Alta is considering “scholarships for those who cannot afford the $30; (4) the committee received information about other services including dental care and 340B discount drug prescription assistance.
Horizons will promote the UCHC health services in the Alta community and will continue to dialogue with the UCHC to provide this option of medical care for the Alta Community.
UCHC information brochures were distributed to committee members. Alta Horizons is going to be distributing these brochures from the new CRC this fall as well as making them available through the local food pantry in Alta - the Lord’s Cupboard. These brochures are available in Spanish and English.
Alta Horizons will also be promoting locally the new Iowa Tobacco Cessation program, which has no income pre-qualications - a 12-week program which includes prescription medicines and counseling.
Alta Horizons will continue to look for ways to encourage the UCHC to bring the health services TO the community of Alta or make it easier for people in Alta to utilize the services.