History
Since July 2004, the Medical Outreach Clinic has been housed within Christ Lutheran Church, offering compassionate and comprehensive care to Harrisburg's Allison Hill community members. Originally launched in 1995 at St. Francis Soup Kitchen on Market St., the clinic has grown through a long-standing partnership between Christ Lutheran Church, Penn State Health and Holy Spirit Hospital. While Penn State Health provides experienced nurses, Christ Lutheran supplies essential medical resources, ensuring a seamless service for those in need.
Services
The clinic operates as a free, walk-in service available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., providing attentive care to all who come through its doors. Without tracking demographic information, the clinic’s focus remains solely on patient well-being. Here, visitors receive personalized care for a range of health issues, from high blood pressure and blood sugar management to emotional support for loneliness and other complex conditions. The clinic’s free structure allows nurses to spend meaningful time with each patient, fostering a caring environment that respects each individual’s needs.
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Nurses provide simple lab tests, basic physical assessments, health education, and some limited assistance with social service liaison, medication assistance, and provision of items necessary for health.
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The Outreach team includes a small core of paid staff and volunteers. Nursing students from HACC have clinical rotations there and services are provided in English, Spanish, French, and Arabic. Other languages are teleconferenced as needed. No appointments are needed and all services are provided free of charge.
Impact
Over the years, the Medical Outreach Clinic has made a substantial impact, serving hundreds of thousands of individuals in the Harrisburg area. Pre-pandemic, the clinic saw over 20,000 visits annually. While these numbers decreased during COVID-19, the clinic remained open, demonstrating its dedication to uninterrupted community care. Each year since, patient visits have steadily increased, with over 1,000 additional visits annually, highlighting the ongoing need for this essential service.