How the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe is Transforming Healthcare Access in Nevada

The rural healthcare shortage is a major issue, especially in tribal nations. In Nevada, one tribe has found an innovative solution: a mobile doctor’s office.

In Lovelock, Nevada—a small desert town about 90 miles northeast of Reno—the Lovelock Paiute Tribe is hosting its annual health fair. The event features booths, live music, and food trucks. Among the attractions is a blue-and-white mobile clinic.

Inside the mobile clinic, there are two exam rooms, a lab, and facilities for blood tests. It’s operated by the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, located about an hour away.

Gabriel Bourne, a member of the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, stepped out of the clinic. He said, “Having access to this allowed me to get shots I needed, which I hadn’t gotten for a long time.” He added, “I’m able to get my eye appointment and follow-ups for lab tests.”

The challenge is that the distance to healthcare often keeps people from getting the care they need. Bourne lives in Lovelock, but seeing a doctor in Fallon requires a two-hour round trip.

Joy Schultz, a nurse at the Fallon Tribal Health Center, emphasized the importance of being present in communities like Lovelock. She noted, “By being here, we connect health issues with care.”

Access to quality healthcare has been a long-standing issue for tribal nations. The Indian Health Service (IHS), responsible for serving Native Americans, has fewer than 100 hospitals for about 2.8 million people. Staffing shortages compound the problem, especially evident in tribes like the Navajo Nation, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

Jon Pishion, director of the Fallon Tribal Health Center, pointed out how the COVID-19 pandemic worsened existing gaps. “Many facilities were shut down, leaving a significant need for outreach,” he said.

Last year, the Fallon Tribe secured a $673,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund their mobile clinic. The clinic now serves around 2,000 patients, visiting members of multiple tribes in a 200-mile radius at least once a month.

“Weather and distance can be tough,” Pishion acknowledged. “Winter can block access.”

Other tribes, like the Navajo Nation and the White Mountain Apache Tribe, are also utilizing mobile clinics to enhance healthcare access.

Dr. Christopher Chai, who works at the mobile clinic, shared how they also handle urgent care needs. He recounted treating a rancher with a broken finger. “We can put in stitches and provide immediate care,” he said.

The mobile clinic also promotes preventive care. Pishion said some patients now see them for checkups rather than only when they’re sick.

Barbara Bonta, an elder of the Walker River Paiute Tribe, was one such patient. “They helped me discover health issues I didn’t know I had until they did tests,” she said. Her daughter, Tia Happy, highlighted the convenience of the mobile clinic: “My mom can’t sit for long periods, so having this service come to us is invaluable.”

This year, the mobile clinic plans to expand its services to include dental care, further addressing the needs of the community.

Mobile health clinics are proving to be a lifeline in rural areas. They bridge the gap in healthcare access and offer hope for better health outcomes among tribal nations.

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COVID19,Mountain West,Nevada,Public health,Tribes,U.S. Department of Agriculture