USA sets world record: World’s first solar-powered mobile Health Clinic

Clemson, South Carolina, USA – December 5, 2016 – The world’s first 100 percent solar-powered, mobile health clinic was recently unveiled at Clemson University Joseph F. Sullivan Center on campus; the clinic will provide educational opportunities for Clemson students and increase outreach efforts to underserved populations in the Upstate and beyond; the new, one-of-a-kind vehicle includes other features that increase its efficiency and versatility in its role as the mobile arm of the health care center.

Photo: The Joseph F. Sullivan Center, the university’s health care center, has opened the world’s first solar-powered, mobile health clinic. When parked, the mobile clinic’s slide out nearly doubles its interior space, and it features a television screen that will deliver nutritional and health education to patients.

The Guinness World Records world record for the Largest hospital ship was set by United States Navy Ship (USNS) Mercy and her sister ship USNS Comfort, each have a total patient capacity of 1,000, with 80 intensive care beds and 12 operating rooms, making them the largest floating hospitals in the world. Formerly supertankers, they are 272.5 m (894 ft) long, 32.2 m (105 ft 8 in) across, and have a full load displacement of 62,922 tonnes.

Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the most participants in a hand sanitising relay is 3,422, achieved by Kasturba Hospital (India) in Karnataka, India, on 15 October 2016.

Dr. Paula Watt, Sullivan Center director, has seen the center go through two previous mobile clinics since her arrival in 1996. She said the benefit of a mobile clinic is twofold: it allows the center to effectively reach underserved communities and demonstrates to Clemson students the challenges in the care of vulnerable patients.

A best-in-class mobile unit will further enhance the center’s ability to achieve these goals.

“We did immeasurable homework on what we wanted, because this will be a rolling billboard for Clemson University and the outreach it provides,” Watt said. “This vehicle is truly a dream come true for me and our staff.”

One of Watt’s primary concerns was the clinic’s off-road capabilities, so Odulair started the project with a four-wheel drive base so the clinic could tackle almost any terrain.

The clinic features flexClinic™ technology, so that its walls can move and convert into space for one to five rooms. The clinic can be used as one large patient education room for 20 people or a combination of rooms for lab, reception and exam room services.

When parked, the clinic draws 100 percent of its power from a special solar battery system, which eliminates the noise and fumes from a traditional generator and decreases operation and maintenance costs. Chambers said the clinic’s solar feature distinguishes it from other mobile clinics and is the world’s first mobile clinic to incorporate 100 percent solar operations.

While the clinic meets some immediate needs for patients, it also provides breast and cervical cancer screenings and connects them to a regular health care provider.

The clinic should remain functional through 2030, according to the company.