Providing access to quality health care

May 25th, 2021 | News | Our Impact

We believe every child should have access to quality health care — that is why the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program was created. In partnership with Mercyhealth, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile provides services that include primary care, diagnosis, treatment referral, and follow-up for medical conditions for children in the Rockford area.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is back on the road providing services to kids in Northern Illinois schools after pausing the program in 2020 due to COVID-19. Since reopening in January 2021, there have been 87 visits and 59 vaccines given to children in need.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile also provides required physicals for children who have recently moved into the area so they can attend school. Physicals are not just about checking ears and eyes and listening to hearts according to Toni Ellingson, Nurse Practitioner and Manager of the Care Mobile program. She says, “Many of the children that I see have moved from somewhere else or have been doing school online for an extended period of time due to the pandemic, and as a result, I am seeing a huge increase in depression and a hard time making new friends. I value the part of my job that allows me to spend time talking with these kids, giving them life management skills, and referring them to counseling when it is appropriate.”

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program is designed with a holistic approach to health care so we can deliver on the needs of our underserved communities.