Healthcare That Meets People Where They Are
Street medicine is built around a simple idea: care should reach people who are often left outside the healthcare system.
For someone living outdoors, getting to a doctor can be difficult or impossible. A person may not have insurance, transportation, a phone, government identification, a safe place to recover, or a trusted relationship with a medical provider.
Miami Street Medicine responds to those barriers by bringing care directly into the community. Our team meets patients on the street, in encampments, near shelters, under bridges, and in other places where people may be living without stable access to healthcare.
Our work at Miami Street Medicine is not only about treating medical needs. It is about building trust, listening without judgment, and helping people take the next step toward care, safety, and stability.
Why Street Medicine Matters in Miami-Dade
People experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty often face health risks that can worsen quickly without care. A wound can become infected. A chronic condition can become dangerous. A missed follow-up visit can turn into an emergency.
Street medicine helps close the gap between people who need care and the systems that are often too difficult for them to access.
Miami Street Medicine provides free healthcare outreach in Miami-Dade for people who may be uninsured, unhoused, undocumented, disconnected from primary care, or unable to visit a clinic on their own.
By reaching patients earlier and following up over time, street medicine can help reduce avoidable emergencies, support long-term health, and reconnect people with medical care and community resources.
What Miami Street Medicine Provides During Outreach
During street medicine outreach, Miami Street Medicine may provide direct medical care, essential supplies, referrals, and care coordination based on the patient’s needs and available resources.
Street medicine is not a replacement for emergency care. If someone is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911. For non-emergency support, Miami Street Medicine can help review the situation and identify the best next step.
Street Medicine Services may include:
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Basic medical evaluations
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Health screenings
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Blood pressure checks
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Blood sugar checks
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Wound care
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Chronic disease support
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Medication support when available
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Counseling and trust-building
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Patient education
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Referrals to additional care
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Care coordination and follow-up
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Connection to community resources
Frequently Asked Questions about Street Medicine Services
What is Street Medicine?
Street medicine is healthcare provided directly to people who may not be able to access traditional clinics, hospitals, or primary care. Street medicine teams meet patients where they are, including sidewalks, shelters, encampments, under bridges, and other community locations.
What does Miami Street Medicine do?
Miami Street Medicine provides free medical outreach and support for people across Miami-Dade County who face barriers to healthcare. Services may include medical checkups, wound care, chronic disease support, medication support, referrals, care coordination, and follow-up.
Where does Miami Street Medicine provide street outreach?
Miami Street Medicine conducts street outreach in areas of Miami-Dade where patients commonly need support, including locations near the Medical Campus and nearby community service sites.
Does street medicine include wound care?
Yes. Wound care is an important part of street medicine outreach. Miami Street Medicine may provide wound cleaning, dressing support, infection monitoring, referrals, and follow-up when possible.
Who does street medicine help?
Street medicine helps people experiencing homelessness, poverty, unstable housing, lack of insurance, transportation barriers, documentation barriers, and disconnection from regular medical care.
Is street medicine free?
Yes. Miami Street Medicine provides free, low-barrier healthcare support. No insurance, ID, or payment is required to ask about care.
How often does Miami Street Medicine conduct street rounds?
Miami Street Medicine generally conducts street rounds twice weekly. During street rounds, the team provides outreach, medical support, supplies, follow-up, and care coordination for patients in the community.
How can I get help for someone I’m concerned about on the street?
You can submit a Curbside Consult Request through the Miami Street Medicine website. The form helps the team understand the person’s location, medical concern, and support needs. You can also view the Community Resource Guide for additional local support options.
Is street medicine the same as emergency medical care?
No. Street medicine is not a replacement for emergency medical care. If someone is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, severe injury, overdose, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or another urgent crisis, call 911.
Help Bring Healthcare Directly to the People
Street medicine helps bring free, compassionate care to people who are too often left without access to traditional healthcare.
Whether you need support, want to request help for someone else, or are ready to support the mission, Miami Street Medicine can help you take the next step.