Access to healthcare can be difficult for people experiencing homelessness. Finding a doctor, getting medication and traveling to appointments can be challenging without stable housing or reliable transportation. Baptist Operation Outreach works to reduce these barriers by bringing free healthcare services to people in Memphis and across Shelby County.
Operated by Baptist Memorial Healthcare and Christ Community Health Services, Baptist Operation Outreach provides medical care to individuals and families without permanent housing. The program uses a mobile clinic to reach people in the community and operates at several locations in Memphis.
Healthcare that meets people where they are
Baptist Operation Outreach offers several services to help patients manage their health. These include primary care, treatment for immediate medical needs, support for long-term conditions, medication services, health education and referrals to other providers.
The program also provides transportation to and from medical appointments in Shelby County and surrounding areas. This service can help patients who have trouble reaching healthcare providers on their own. Patients can also receive care for health concerns and referrals when they need additional services.
It takes a village
Partnerships play an important role in supporting Baptist Operation Outreach. The program receives funding from Baptist Memorial Healthcare, Christ Community Health Services, Tennessee's Health Care Safety Net, the Health Resources and Services Administration and private individuals. These partnerships help support services for people who may have limited access to traditional healthcare.
Community groups and churches can also help connect people with resources. Organizations interested in arranging a mobile clinic visit can contact Baptist Operation Outreach to discuss scheduling and service availability.
Sharing faith, hope and love
Beyond medical care, Baptist Memorial Healthcare and Christ Community Health Services work together to support people experiencing homelessness through the annual Tree of Faith, Hope & Love holiday event. During past events, volunteers served a hot meal and distributed backpacks filled with winter essentials, including socks, thermal undergarments, gloves, hats, scarves and toiletry kits. Attendees also enjoyed Christmas music and wrote holiday cards to loved ones. Volunteers prepared 300 backpacks, with extras distributed to local shelters.
Stay tuned for details about this year's Tree of Faith, Hope & Love event in December!
How to find help
For more information, call 901-842-3167 for the main clinic or 901-283-8233 for the mobile clinic. Patients should call ahead to confirm current hours, services and appointment availability.
Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare and treatment with dignity and respect. Through its services and community partnerships, Baptist Operation Outreach helps make that care more accessible to people who need it most.
