Thursday, April 25, 2024

Health care, delivered to Sumter patients via mobile unit

Prisma Health Dr. Heather Staples and Respiratory Therapist Whitney Fennell work with Lilli Ard to conduct cystic fibrosis check ups with patients out of their mobile health unit on Tuesday in Sumter. Due to their pre-existing conditions, Prisma has been conducting these mobile checkups with patients to ensure they aren't exposed to COVID-19. The checkups include height and weight, a pulmonary function test and a culture test.

MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM

Respiratory Therapist Whitney Fennell prepares conducts a pulmonary function test outside the mobile health unit on Tuesday. Due to the patients' pre-existing conditions, Prisma has been conducting these mobile checkups with patients to ensure they aren't exposed to COVID-19. The checkups include height and weight, a pulmonary function test and a culture test.

MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM

Respiratory Therapist Whitney Fennell prepares to conduct a pulmonary function test outside the mobile health unit on Tuesday.

MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM

Respiratory Therapist Whitney Fennell prepares to conduct a pulmonary function test outside the mobile health unit on Tuesday.

MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM

Prisma Health Respiratory Therapist Whitney Fennell and Dr. Heather Staples work with Mattison Smith outside a mobile health unit on Tuesday in Sumter.

MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM

Prisma Health Dr. Heather Staples and Respiratory Therapist Whitney Fennell conduct cystic fibrosis checkups with patients out of their mobile health unit on Tuesday in Sumter.

MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM

Respiratory Therapist Whitney Fennell and Dr. Heather Staples work with Mattison Smith outside the mobile health unit on Tuesday.

MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM

Fennell conducts a pulmonary function test outside the mobile health unit on Tuesday.

MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM

Prisma Health Dr. Heather Staples and Respiratory Therapist Whitney Fennell conduct cystic fibrosis checkups with patients out of their mobile health unit on Tuesday in Sumter.

MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM

Respiratory Therapist Whitney Fennell and Dr. Heather Staples work with Brianna McIntyre outside the mobile health unit on Tuesday.

MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM

Fennell prepares to conduct a checkup outside the mobile health unit on Tuesday.

MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM

Prisma Health Dr. Heather Staples and Respiratory Therapist Whitney Fennell conduct cystic fibrosis checkups with patients out of their mobile health unit on Tuesday in Sumter. Due to the patients' pre-existing conditions, Prisma has been conducting these mobile checkups with patients to ensure they aren't exposed to COVID-19. The checkups include height and weight, a pulmonary function test and a culture test.

MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM

Posted Thursday, April 23, 2020 6:00 am

BY MICAH GREEN
micah@theitem.com

All our coronavirus coverage is free to the public. It’s the right thing to do as a public service to our community. If you find this article helpful or informative and want to support our continued coverage, please support us with a tax-deductible donation.

To find all our coronavirus coverage, including helpful local resources and website links, click here.

---

Like those with other pre-existing conditions, people living with cystic fibrosis are more susceptible to developing complications if they are infected by the new coronavirus.

CF Foundation clinical care guidelines recommend that people aged 6 or older who have CF visit their care center at least four times, receive four sputum cultures and perform at least two pulmonary function tests per year.

With many clinics closed, Prisma Health, the health care system that owns Tuomey Hospital in Sumter, decided to meet its patients where they are and provided these scheduled checkups via a mobile health unit on Tuesday.

SUBSCRIBE

Health care, delivered to Sumter patients via mobile unit