02/05/2026
When Mobile Clinics Hurt the Community They’re Meant to Help
Parents of Calhoun County students, please pay close attention to the upcoming survey about placing a mobile or semi-permanent clinic on the Vardaman school campus.
While it may sound convenient, this is not free care. Visits would still be billed to insurance, and co-pays and deductibles apply just like any other clinic.
Before supporting it, consider the bigger picture. Medical care at school without a parent present raises concerns about communication, medical history, consent, and advocacy for your child. Parents still handle follow-ups, prescriptions, and long-term decisions. A school clinic does not replace a family provider.
We also have to think about our local clinics that serve the entire community — babies, working adults, seniors, and families who need close-to-home care. If patient numbers shift away, those clinics may be forced to cut services or close.
A school-based clinic doesn’t operate during fall break, Christmas break, spring break, or summer vacation. If a local clinic is lost, access to care suffers when school is out, leaving families and elderly with fewer options and longer travel for basic healthcare.
This decision shouldn’t be based on convenience alone. Please read the survey carefully and think about what protects long-term access to care in Calhoun County.
— Amanda Mahan, CFNP
Family Medical Clinic Vardaman
