In July 2022, the Street Medicine Program was launched as a collaborative initiative between Munson Healthcare, Traverse Health Clinic and Goodwill Northern Michigan’s Street Outreach team. The program aims to provide medical care to people experiencing homelessness wherever they are located. Since its inception, the program has served over 1,000 people in Northern Michigan.
The Street Medicine partners transformed a box truck into a state-of-the-art hospital exam room to reach patients at homeless shelters, encampments and other community locations. The new funds from Munson will help expand access for patients experiencing homelessness and complete accessibility upgrades to Traverse Health Clinic’s mobile medical unit. The money will also fund a full-time community coordinator position to support wraparound services and manage operational costs for the program.
Munson Healthcare president and CEO, Ed Ness, emphasized the importance of providing care to vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness to prevent significant health issues. “The Street Medicine Program is an important initiative that we are proud to support,” said Ness. “By providing critical healthcare services to those who need it most, we can help alleviate human suffering and improve their quality of life.”
Traverse Health Clinic CEO, Casey Kandow, described the donation as an exciting development that will help alleviate human suffering and provide critical healthcare services to the unhoused population. “We are thrilled to have Munson Healthcare as a partner in our efforts to provide medical care to people experiencing homelessness,” said Kandow. “With their support, we can continue to expand our reach and make a real difference in the lives of those we serve.”
