The new Odulair 100% Solar-powered Mobile Clinic Bus has been delivered to its happy owner, the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa!
The 41-foot-long Mobile Clinic Bus by Odulair is only the second 100% Solar-powered Mobile Clinic in the country. The first is at Clemson University in South Carolina.
Geisinger Emergency Management Director Stephanie Gryboskim said the public will get to see the staff in the bus providing first aid to patients during the Bloomsburg Fair. “The bus will be making its big debut during the fair,” she said of the white Odulair Mobile Clinic Bus.
“It can be used in rural areas where there are no utilities such as hook-ups for water and electricity,” she said.
“The onboard solar power system consists of 10 solar panels and lithium-ion batteries able to sustain clinic operations almost indefinitely,” said Al Neuner, vice president of facility operations. “Most mobile clinics rely on an onboard generator to power their clinics which brings noisy and distracting. The solar system is not only environmentally friendly but has no sound, creating an environment much more conducive for patient care.”
Ten solar panels are constantly charging on the bus roof. They charge six lithium-ion batteries that power the bus and utilities on the bus, she said. There is also a generator as a back-up.
The front of the vehicle houses three rotating exam chairs for patients. In the back is a full-size patient clinic. “We will be able to see four patients at a time,” she said.
The type of staff will be determined according to the use of the vehicle. The minimum would be a nurse and an advanced provider such as a doctor, a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant, she said.
The vehicle has an outside awning and an outdoor TV monitor to display patient instructions and information.
The bus, which is wired to access Geisinger’s electronic records system, also has a galley with a coffee-maker, a refrigerator, a microwave, and a full bath.