Street Medicine

Tower Health Medical Groups’ Street Medicine Program offers primary and preventative care to the unsheltered homeless, shelter residents, and anyone who is at high risk of experiencing homelessness.

The Street Medicine Program strives to:

  • Deliver equitable and patient-centered primary and acute healthcare services to individuals experiencing homeless;

  • Increase accessibility and continuity of care by connecting patients to healthcare services through telehealth;

  • Provide patient case management services and inpatient consultations;

  • Educate patients on available community services and resources.

Services Provided

Note: Some services are provided periodically or intermittently.

  • Telemedicine: Virtual consultations to provide medical assistance and follow-up care.

  • Diabetic Education: Guidance and support for managing diabetes.

  • Physical Therapy: Rehabilitation services to improve physical health.

  • Endocrinology: Specialized care for hormone-related disorders.

  • Pulmonary, Neurology, and Vision sub-clinics: Specialized clinics for respiratory, neurological, and vision health.

  • Social Determinants of Health Screenings (SDoH): Assessments and resources to address social factors affecting health.

  • Comprehensive Case Management: Assistance with medical and social needs, including housing, transportation, and documentation.

  • Rapid HIV Testing: Quick and confidential HIV testing.

  • Hepatitis C Testing (coming soon): Screening for Hepatitis C.

Primary Care Services:

  • Internal Medicine

  • Family Medicine

Specialty Services:

Note: Some services are provided periodically or intermittently.

  • Podiatry: Foot and ankle care.

  • Psychiatry: Mental health services.

  • Addiction Medicine: Support and treatment for substance use disorders.

  • OB/GYN: Comprehensive women's health services, including:

    • Prenatal and Postpartum Care

    • Contraception and Family Planning

    • Gynecological Exams

    • Menstrual Health and Menopause Management

    • Cancer Screenings

  • Pediatric Services:

    • General Examinations

    • Physical Exams for School Entry

    • Driver’s License Examinations

    • Daycare Forms

    • Sick and Well Visits

Outreach Locations and Schedule

Weekly Clinics: We provide primary and preventative care at various locations and times throughout the city.

Outreach Locations: Our outreach efforts extend to encampments, parks, under bridges, and along rivers and mountains throughout the county.

Clinic Partner Sites: We partner with multiple organizations to offer our services, including:

  • Hope Rescue Mission

  • Lighthouse Women's and Children Center

  • City Light Ministry

  • Mary’s Shelter

  • Reading YMCA

  • New Journey Community Outreach

Key Collaborations

Our Street Medicine program collaborates with numerous hospital services, departments, and community resources to provide comprehensive care, including:

  • Community Connections Program (CCP)

  • Center for Public Health (CPH)

  • Mobile Mammography Coach

  • Soft Landing Program

  • Center of Excellence for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)

  • Drexel Medical School

  • Connections Work

  • Salvation Army

  • Berks Coalition to End Homelessness

  • Homelessness Outreach Taskforce

What we’ve achieved…

People Icon

Street Medicine Encounters

FY2024: 3,725
FY2023: 2,130

Steth0scope Icon

Street Medicine
Visits

FY2024: 2,283
FY2023: 1,320

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Volunteer
Hours

FY2024: 1,784.75
FY2023: 1,713.75

Street Medicine Encounters: Any encounter between a patient and Street Medicine team member (in person, by phone, and via the Telehealth Kiosk)

Street Medicine Visits: Any patient seen by a Street Medicine provider

*Data verified by Epic

STREET MEDICINE SCHEDULE

Street Medicine TELEMEDICINE Kiosk Schedule

Who We Are

An Innovative Approach to Care

At the conclusion of the 2016 Berks County Community Health Needs Assessment, one of the key priority areas identified was access to care. One population within our community that struggles the most with accessing quality healthcare are those who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless.

Our Street Medicine Program has 4 basic components:

  1. Deliver equitable and patient-centered primary and acute healthcare services to homeless individuals;

  2. Increase accessibility and continuity of care by connecting patients to healthcare services through telehealth;

  3. Provide patient case management services and inpatient consultations;

  4. Educate patients on available community services and resources.

For more information or to get involved, please contact: