Construction has begun on the mobile medical unit storage and disaster response facility for the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)-Louisiana.
The facility is part of VCOM-Louisiana's CAREPATH project. CAREPATH is short for “VCOM Supports the Community: Assess, Respond, Engage, Provide Access, Treat, Heal.”
This facility, located at 3610 Concordia Street in Monroe, will house VCOM-Louisiana’s mobile medical units, acquired through a collaborative partnership with the Ouachita Parish Police Jury. The facility is equipped with a generator, and will support emergency response efforts and clinical operations. The building is designed to serve as a centralized hub for patient care, medical education, and disaster response coordination, and is supported in part by two grants from the Living Well Foundation totaling $234,000.
Alice M. Prophit, president and CEO of the Living Well Foundation, said, “We are pleased to partner with VCOM to provide this site for medical support services for mobile clinical care and emergency response services. Their presence in our area is vital to our future healthcare capacity, and we look forward to further engagement and expansion of their expertise in our community through the education and training of medical professionals and the delivery of healthcare services.”
VCOM-Louisiana Dean Ray L. Morrison, DO, FACOS, DFACOS, is grateful for the support from an important community partner. “This generous support from the Living Well Foundation will have a profound impact on both our community and our students, advancing the mission of VCOM,” he said. “The new facility strengthens our capacity to respond effectively in times of disaster and community need, while providing essential hands-on training opportunities for our medical students in Monroe. This investment supports the health of Ouachita Parish and the surrounding region, while helping prepare the next generation of physicians dedicated to service.”
According to a press release from VCOM-Louisiana, the partnership between the Living Well Foundation and VCOM "reflects a shared commitment to building healthier, stronger communities by expanding access to care, advancing preparedness, and ensuring readiness to serve when communities need it most."