As 2010 drew to a close, there was a lot to be thankful for at MedTouch.  New clients, new employees, and a new office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa – all of which contributed to a dramatic year of professional and financial growth.

This year, instead of giving away clients mugs and tote bags, we decided to give back and make one concentrated year-end charitable contribution in honor and thanks for our clients.  For 2010, we selected Street Medicine as the recipient and I wanted to use the opportunity of the first blog post of the New Year to highlight the good work they do.

About Street Medicine
Street Medicine trains healthcare providers nationwide to bring primary care to those without homes, averting unnecessary trips to emergency rooms.

With 44 million living below the poverty line, Street Medicine fills a large gap in coverage, providing access to medical care for a population that needs it most. Street Medicine’s network of local affiliates in cities across the country provides essential routine, preventive care to the nation’s homeless through teams of healthcare workers who build relationships with the local homeless population. Street Medicine workers visit the homeless on a regular basis to deliver medical supplies and care, as well as clothing, food and other basic provisions.

In the process, the organization has shaken up traditional views on how healthcare is delivered. To support field workers, Houston affiliate Healthcare for the Homeless has developed a mobile electronic medical records program. This enables providers to access and share medical histories with local hospitals.

Street Medicine holds a national conference each year (run by Operation Safety Net, a Philadelphia affiliate) to educate additional healthcare workers on bringing effective preventive care to the streets both in the domestic United States and abroad, in countries such as Haiti and Guatemala. Our donation this year will provide funding for this conference to educate healthcare workers on delivering street medicine. To learn more about the organization or to make a donation please visit: www.streetmedicine.org.

It is my hope that as our success with clients translates into success for our company, we will continue to highlight and partner with innovative healthcare organizations such as Street Medicine.

Happy New Year from all of us at MedTouch!

Best,

Paul