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 A part of Holy Spirit Hospital, the Medical Outreach Service was formed by Pastor Jody Silliker, who is also an RN, to identify who was falling through the cracks of the healthcare system, and to help those folks either access the services they needed, or, when necessary, to create those services. Holy Spirit Hospital and Christ Lutheran Church share a mission imperative to extend the healing mission of Jesus Christ and view health care as a human right. The church and the hospital have joined forces to dedicate their resources to the care of the poor.
In 1995 Silliker, who was a seminarian at the time, began the Service in the dining hall of the St. Francis Soup Kitchen in Allison Hill. That first year she provided 257 patient visits. Over the years, community trust in the Service and dire need quickly grew the demand for services. Additional staff nurses and volunteers were added and the Service moved into renovated classrooms above the Soup Kitchen. In 2004, 9,400 patient visits were provided.
 Having utterly outgrown their space at St. Francis, the Medical Outreach Service relocated to renovated space in the basement of Christ Lutheran Church. Silliker still leads the clinic and provides hands-on care there. The staff has grown to include 2 other full time nurses, some flex nurses, a receptionist and 2 translators. Volunteers from the congregation and the community at large regularly help out. Radiology and nursing students have clinical rotations there.
The Medical Outreach Service is open every weekday from 11:30-2:30. It is a nursing clinic, with no doctors there. The nurses can do simple lab tests, basic physical assessments, health education, and some limited assistance with social service liaison, medication assistance and the provision of items necessary for health such as blankets, hygiene items, underwear, etc.
The Medical Outreach Service also functions as a hospitality site for the homeless. Those who wish, are welcome to sit and read, chat, use the phone and have coffee. 89.4% of the clients served live under the federal poverty line, 65% of them under less than half of that line. Approximately one-third are homeless; one-third do not speak English. The staff is fluent in English, Spanish and French. Arabic is being learned.
No appointments are needed for any service, and all services are provided free of charge. The site phone is 260-9320, and the administrative phone is 763-2507.
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