Earlier this month, 185 volunteers from Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis worked with local partners at the Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center on the city’s northwest side to offer basic healthcare services at no cost for the community as part of its 4th annual Ascension Medical Mission event.
The Ascension Medical Mission is a national effort by Ascension and its caregivers to deliver healthcare, social and support services to those who might not otherwise have access to these services in a convenient location.
This year’s Indianapolis event served about 235 individuals from the community – an 18% increase from the average of 200 individuals served in each of the annual event’s first three years.
Attendees were able to receive free medical screenings, assistance with medications, dental assistance, foot-washings and foot care, flu shots, sports physicals, spiritual care consultations, mammography screenings, health insurance application completion, diabetes screenings, food pantry resources, and free coats. The event also offered on-site interpreter services for those with language needs.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the goods and services that were provided:
- 311 free coats
- 168 flu shots
- 159 food pantry visits
- 104 medical exams
- 64 follow-up appointments to see a primary care physician
- 55 spiritual care consultations
- 52 dental screenings
- 44 foot-washings
- 38 individuals enrolling in Rural and Urban Access to Health, a community-based care coordination program sponsored by Ascension St. Vincent
- 30 diabetes screenings
- 29 prescriptions filled
- More than 25 children served in the kids’ area
- 24 foot-care visits
- 9 sports physicals
- 7 mammography screenings
