St. Luke's Episcopal Mobile Medical Ministry

Utilizing an RV equipped as a physician's office - St Luke's mobile medical van takes the physician's office directly to the neighborhoods, decreasing the barriers of access due to transportation, expense and the confusion about how the health system works.  The focus of preventative healthcare screening for chronic health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol allow for early diagnosis and treatment.  St Luke's target population is the unsheltered homeless and low-income residents of NWLA.  Our clients are African American, White, Hispanic, male and female, ages 18-75+, incomes of $24,000 or less.  All services provided by St Luke's Mobile Medical Ministry is FREE!   St Luke's schedules 20-24 clinics each month at homeless shelters, community centers, churches and in neighborhoods.  These include regular clinics and special events like community health fairs.  St Luke's provides 2 types of clinics:  Screening - run by a RN offers general checks of B/P, glucose, cholesterol and STD, HIV and Hep C testing along with Education; Primary - MD or NP present to provide additional screening as well as writing needed prescriptions, address acute needs such as wound care and mobility issues.  Case Managers assist with prescriptions, referrals and other resources.  Referrals include dental, eye exam and glasses, burns, housing and whatever else we can help with.  St Luke's collaborates with many like organizations to serve our clients - such as Hope House, Hope Connection, Lovewell, Salvation Army, Common Ground, Churches, Community Organizations/Centers, City of Shreveport, Caddo Parish and Food Pantries.  These partnerships allow for outreach to a diverse population and invite participation by members of the community.  St Luke's had over 2500 visits to the van this year, 800 were unduplicated and 315 documented homeless individuals.  Our numbers show progress and success in our consistent efforts to improve the healthcare of our homeless and low-income residents in NWLA  

Testimonials

Kathy is one of our clients that we see in Mansfield on the first Friday of each month. The Van goes to the Food Bank held at Higher Ground Ministries. Kathy is a grandmother and she keeps her grandchildren each day and is devoted to them. On her last visit, she announced that she was proud to say she had stopped smoking and had not had a cigaret for the last 6 months. When questioned about why she stopped she said that her doctor told her that she had very bad circulation in her legs and that stopping smoking would help otherwise she would have to have surgery. Kathy said that coming by St. Luke's and having her blood pressure checked and blood sugar checking and taking advantage of our education materials helps to keep her motivated toward her goals to get healthy. She knows she needs to keep her doctor appointments and is able to share what health information she gets from St. Luke's to add to the information her doctor obtains. Because of our records, we looked back to see what effect her not smoking had on her blood pressure. Prior to smoking her blood pressure was 139/77 and after stopping smoking for 6 months her blood pressure was now 129/66. No only had her blood pressure dropped to a normal level, she reported that she had so much more energy and was now working to start walking regularly to see if she could lose some weight. We are supporting her in that effort by taking her weight each time she comes for a visit. Small actions that are having a big impact on her health.