El Rio Health’s Street Medicine program sends four mobile teams across Tucson to meet people where they are — at 19 shelter locations, parks, encampments and washes — plus a weekly walk-in clinic at Cherrybell Health Center for people experiencing homelessness.
El Rio says its teams have cared for more than 8,500 unique patients across 25,000 visits. Providers go on foot to find people who would otherwise go unseen, treating heat exhaustion and sunburn, wound infections, diabetes and heart disease. They also replace lost medications, distribute Narcan, and team up with first responders when emergencies hit.
“Caring for Southern Arizona means showing up for the neighbors who are hardest to reach. El Rio’s street medicine teams do exactly that. They meet people where they are, earn their trust, and open the door to the care everyone deserves,” said Amanda Sampson Lomayesva, interim CEO of Casino Del Sol, in a statement to 13 News.
See more at KOLD.