The Franciscan Centera non-profit ministry, with its medical partner MedStar Healthunveiled its new one today Mobile Health Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony on MondayOctober 28. The Franciscan Center now serves as one of four community partner sites for MedStar Health Mobile Health Center – North Baltimore. The Mobile Health Center has consultation hours on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Franciscan Center.
The Mobile Health Center provides medical services including primary care, emergency care, mental health care, wound auto, HIV and Hepatitis C testing, STD screenings, women’s health, chronic disease management, cancer screenings, vaccines and suboxone. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are encouraged. No medical insurance is required to visit the Mobile Health Center.
“MedStar Health has been serving the Baltimore community for 170 years, and today we are honored to join our partners at the Franciscan Center in launching this location for our Mobile Health Center,” said Thomas J. Senker, FACHEpresident of MedStar Good Samaritan and MedStar Health Union Memorial Hospitals, and senior vice president of MedStar Health. “We understand the needs of our community, and with the help of the Franciscan Center, we can ensure greater access to care for the families and communities we serve.”
“At the Franciscan Center, our goal is to be a sanctuary for our clients where they can find fulfillment physically, mentally and spiritually. We provide hot, nutritious meals, responsive services, and hope and dignity. However, we knew something was missing. We wanted and needed to provide high-quality health care to all families in our community,” said Franciscan Center Executive Director Jeff Griffin. “We couldn’t do it alone, and MedStar Health showed up. With this partnership, we can overcome the healthcare challenge and deliver resources directly.”
The Mobile Health Center – North Baltimore is stationed at three additional locations Tuesday through Thursday at Community Assistance Network, Govans Farmers’ Market and St. Stephens AME Church. MedStar Health is offering a second mobile health center for South Baltimore communities in four locations.
About Franciscan Center
The Franciscan Center is a non-profit organization. The mission of the Franciscan Center is to provide emergency and supportive services to economically disadvantaged individuals in an effort to help them realize their self-worth and dignity as people of God. The nonprofit organization provides a continuum of care that includes food, clothing, emergency health services, counseling and technology training to help clients become as self-sufficient as possible. The center is now a partner site for the MedStar Health Mobile Health Center on Mondays.
The Center‘s Culinary Services offers a pantry and hot lunch program, feeding approximately 400 to 600 people daily at its W. 23rd Street location and local homeless camps. The Franciscan Center serves 99% of the scratch food. The food cooked and served is fresh and healthy, with produce and proteins sourced from the on-site Little Portion Farm at the Shrine of St. Anthony, First Fruits Farm and other local farms.
In addition, the Center offers the Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy, a 13-week program – a no-cost training program for culinary associates. For more information about the Franciscan Center’s services, visit www.fcbmore.org.
About MedStar Health
At MedStar Health, we use the best of our minds and the best of our hearts to serve our patients, those who care for them, and our communities. Our 30,000 employees and 4,700 affiliated physicians are committed to delivering on this promise through our core values of SPIRIT – Service, Patient First, Integrity, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork – at our more than 300 locations, including 10 hospitals, outpatient and urgent care centers . As a medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar Health trains future physician leaders to care for the whole person and advances care through the MedStar Health Research Institute. From our telemedicine and emergency care services to the region’s largest home health agency, we strive to provide high-quality healthcare that is also easy and convenient for our patients. At MedStar Health, it’s the way we treat people. More information at MedStarHealth.org.
