In July 2022, Munson Healthcare, Traverse Health Clinic, and Goodwill Northern Michigan’s Street Outreach team launched a new initiative called the Street Medicine Program. This program brings a fully-equipped hospital exam room in a box truck to locations such as homeless shelters and encampments to provide medical care to individuals experiencing homelessness.
The additional $300,000 donation from Munson Healthcare will help enhance access to care for homeless patients and complete accessibility upgrades to Traverse Health Clinic’s mobile medical unit. The funding will also enable the hiring of a full-time community coordinator to oversee comprehensive wraparound services and manage operational costs for the program. Since its launch, the Street Medicine Program has already served over 1,000 individuals.
According to Ed Ness, president and CEO of Munson Healthcare, providing medical care to individuals experiencing homelessness is crucial in addressing their significant health concerns. Ness emphasized that Munson Healthcare is committed to ensuring that these individuals receive necessary care, including preventative services, which can help address the growing number of homeless individuals in the community.
Casey Kandow, CEO of Traverse Health Clinic, expressed gratitude for Munson Healthcare’s support and emphasized the importance of partnerships in providing critical healthcare services to the unhoused population. Kandow highlighted how this collaboration has allowed them to provide much-needed medical care to those who may not have had access otherwise.
Overall, this partnership between Munson Healthcare and Traverse Health Clinic aims to improve accessibility and quality of life for individuals experiencing homelessness through comprehensive healthcare services provided by the Street Medicine Program.