The Premier Mobile Health Services Story
Many years ago, Deanie was undocumented with no access to health care. She was often afraid to seek medical care in shame and the fear of deportation.
A successful journey is typically marked by stories of despair that lead to triumph over adversity. Deanie’s beginnings were humbler and more eventful than most. She was a teenage mother and a high school dropout who was drowning in self-destruction and self-hate. She soon realized she was not living up to her potential, so she began searching for ways to improve her life. Deanie started by earning her GED and then linked her interests and passions to a career in nursing. In nursing, Deanie found her calling; she loves connecting with and taking care of others. As her confidence grew, she continued to earn more credentials, then quickly emerged into a self-realized entrepreneur and change agent in addition to being a mother of three children.
Several years ago, while pursuing her master’s degree in nursing, her capstone was about owning a mobile medical clinic after retiring from her full-time job. However, three and a half years later, while working at the local hospital, Deanie discovered that too many young African American males were on dialysis. To add to that, they were being diagnosed with chronic, yet preventable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and other life-threatening illnesses. She knew those outcomes could have been different if they had sought medical care earlier in their lives.
With a sense of urgency to care for the vulnerable in Lee County, Deanie searched on eBay, and from her own personal savings, she purchased her first mobile medical unit. Since making this investment in 2018, and with a staff of 10 plus skilled volunteers, Premier Mobile has provided health screenings, health education, and disease management services to over 14,000 individuals including COVID testing and vaccinations.
We currently serve our outlying community in multiple locations with regular visits from our mobile medical clinics to The Pine Manor Community Center in South Fort Myers, Florida Southwestern University in South Fort Myers, Gladiolus Food Pantry in South Fort Myers, FMB Strong in Fort Myers Beach, Café of Life in Bonita Springs and in Immokalee in Collier County.
Premier Mobile Health Services is staffed with highly skilled multilingual professionals. Our ability to provide free health care services is also made possible by our 12 affiliation agreements with national and local Universities helping us provide services at no-cost and low-cost. Our organization is a bridge for students as they transition into professional medical careers. In 2024 we trained 22 students which included 13 Nurse Practitioners, 2 Medical Assistants, 2 Physician Assistants, 4 Registered Nurses and 1 Phlebotomist. Deanie was recently awarded Preceptor of the Year for Nova Southeastern University.
We were recently invited to be a part of the Harvard University Mobile Health Map and Harvard continues to make the case that “mobile healthcare is good for communities.” Premier Mobile Health Services is your Route to Better Health and a ‘driving’ force as to how patient care is delivered in this ever-changing world. Our goal is to empower not only the patient, but our partnership agencies to care for the whole person, anticipate needs and prepare for the future. Deanie sees her story in every patient she serves and hopes to improve the lives of many more in her community. Call us today to schedule an appointment to experience the difference that compassionate, comprehensive, quality healthcare can make in your life.
Partnership and Collaboration is the Key to Our Success
We are grateful to our many partnerships and collaborations that allow us to serve as a vehicle for delivering practical solutions to health care disparities in our community.
Grant Partners, Agency and Corporate Collaborators
United Way of Lee, Henry and Glades – Lee Health Foundation
National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics – Mobile Healthcare Association – The Community Foundation – The Moorings Foundation – Zonta Foundation of SW Florida – Swinging with Purpose
University of Miami – Vanderbilt University – Harvard University Mobile Mapping Program – Nova Southeastern University Preceptorship
Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL – Direct Relief – Aids Healthcare Foundation – American Heart Association – American Family Insurance – American Cancer Society – American Red Cross – Cafe of Life – Cigna – Florida Department of Health – Mount Hermon Ministries – FMB Strong –
Pine Manor Community Center – Gladiolus Food Pantry – City of Fort Myers, City of Fort Myers Police and Fire Departments – Americares
Suncoast Estates Community Center – Lee County Sheriff’s Department
Project Hope – Amazon- Aetna Medicare Solutions – Florida Blue Foundation – Florida Gulf Coast University – Purdue University- Publix Truist Foundation – Red Sox Foundation – Minnesota Twins – Golisano Children’s Hospital – Health Planning Council – Healthy Start SW Florida David Burnham Compass Realty – Optimum Care SW Florida – Zeal Technical Institute – Walmart – Suncoast Credit Union – Lifescan – Rotary Club of Fort Myers Heart to Heart International – BD – United Health Care – Chick fil A – Collaboratory – Costco Wholesale – Florida Southwestern State College – Injury Case Management- Gulf Coast Community Foundation – King Leo Promotions – Rozes Sweet Treats – Liberty Dental – Making a Difference Foundation – Miami Regional University – Mount Hermon Ministries – Neuropsychiatric Research Center – Nova Southeastern University- South University College of Nursing – University of South Florida – Walden University – Sunshine Health – CJ & GE Carignan Trust – Humana – Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Foundation – Baby2Baby – Scripps Howard Fund
Here is an example of a grant in action:
Thanks to our Florida Blue Grant Partner, we have funds to fulfill our mission in the community
5% will be spent on an additional nurse practitioner’s salary. A nurse practitioner is crucial for the success of the program as the practitioner will be deployed on our mobile clinics, allowing for individuals in our community to obtain quality care from a licensed health professional.
10% will be spent on an additional driver’s salary. An additional driver is important so that both mobile clinics can be deployed at the same time.
A portion will be used for technology for mammogram screenings, hypertension screenings for both our brick-and-mortar and mobile clinics, marketing materials and other programming needs.
