Mobile Integrated Health: bridging healthcare gaps
Vashon currently has at least five types of healthcare resources. It’s great that we have multiple choices, but it can be confusing to know who to call for what. While the primary care clinics, Vashon Mobile Integrated Health (MIH), DispatchHealth (urgent care), and Vashon Pharmacy can address some of the same injuries and acute and chronic illnesses, they each have a unique scope of services tailored to the diverse needs of our community.
Vashon Healthcare District’s newly updated Continuum of Care chart at vashonhealthcare.org/resources can help you decide which one to call.
Vashon Island Fire & Rescue’s MIH program helps fill the gaps in our island’s healthcare offerings by connecting people to the right care at the right time and place. MIH offers free in-home and community-based care for anyone who may need extra support managing health conditions, navigating the healthcare system, or accessing social services. The MIH team includes nurses, a social worker, and a full-time physician assistant. The team is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and visits are provided at no cost thanks to community tax support. Services are available to everyone on Vashon, regardless of insurance coverage. The goals include making care more accessible, keeping people healthy at home, and helping prevent avoidable emergency visits or hospitalizations.
MIH’s medical services include prescriptions (short term), sutures, timely medical assessments, wound care, simple infections, immunizations, catheter problems and more. The supportive services offered include connection to mental health and substance use support, transportation coordination, fall risk assessment, medication management, home safety checks, and help with establishing primary care.
The MIH team is mobile, so staff members are often out on home visits across the island. To make an appointment, call 206-463-2405 or visit vifr.org/mih. Calling or scheduling online is the best way to reach the team quickly and ensure someone is available to meet with you.
Get vaccinated before the holidays
High-volume vaccination clinics at Vashon Pharmacy, supported by VashonBePrepared and the Medical Reserve Corps, ended last week after administering approximately 1,900 doses of COVID-19 and 1,900 doses of influenza vaccines to island residents. While volunteers will no longer be assisting, pharmacy staff will continue giving vaccinations. It’s not too late to get protected — here are three good reasons to do it soon:
1) COVID-19 and flu vaccines are effective. Vaccine effectiveness studies measure real-world prevention of severe disease leading to hospitalization or death. Each year, COVID-19 and flu vaccines are updated to better match circulating strains. Dr. Jim Bristow of the Vashon Medical Reserve Corps noted that “according to a New England Journal of Medicine review of 511 peer-reviewed studies, COVID vaccine effectiveness so far against severe COVID disease has averaged about 50%; however, the authors noted that last year’s vaccine was 68% effective against hospitalization. Available evidence suggests that COVID vaccination of children reduces long COVID risk by 50% to 70%. Flu vaccine effectiveness is also variable but has averaged 40% to 50% effective in preventing severe disease.” While not perfect, these vaccines remain the best way to reduce the risk of serious illness from COVID-19 and flu viruses. (Read the NEJM review at tinyurl.com/NEJM-vax.)
2) COVID-19 and flu vaccines are safe. Vaccines are drugs and, as such, have risks. In addition to large randomized trials with long-term follow-up, the CDC maintains a reporting system for adverse vaccine events (VAERS). Apart from local reactions at the injection site, the most common side effect of COVID-19 and flu vaccines is flu-like symptoms that generally last less than 24 hours. Anaphylaxis is a rare but serious allergic reaction that may occur within minutes after vaccination. It occurs in about five cases per million doses of the COVID vaccine and one case per million doses of the flu vaccine. For COVID vaccines, there is a risk of inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) in adolescent boys — one to three cases per 150,000 doses. But COVID-19 disease also causes myocarditis, which is both more severe and less likely to resolve completely than vaccine-associated myocarditis. Neither vaccine poses a risk to pregnant women or their babies.
3) They’re free at Vashon Pharmacy and many clinics. Most health insurance plans cover annual COVID-19 and flu vaccinations without a co-pay. This year, a grant from the Vashon Healthcare District, along with gifts from generous donors being matched by Vashon Pharmacy, will cover all out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations for islanders, regardless of insurance status.
A final reminder: It takes two to four weeks to develop immunity, so vaccination now will provide protection for the holidays.
Paul McGown Jr, PA-C. (Vashon Island Fire Rescue Photo)
Left to right: Sarah, RN learning observer with Mobile Integrated Health; Katie Burke, RN with MIH; two representatives from DispatchHealth; and Lisa Coley, LICSW with MIH. (Vashon Island Fire Rescue Photo)
