Our Mission calls us to serve all persons with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable, to provide care that sustains and improves the health of individuals and communities and to be advocates for a compassionate and just society—and that is what Ascension Medical Mission at Home is all about. Providence is part of Ascension, the largest nonprofit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system. Other Ascension sites across the nation have held medical mission events in their communities. Five Ascension Medical Mission at Home events have occurred in Texas. Ascension’s Seton Healthcare Family in Austin has hosted three.

On this special day of healing, the Waco Convention Center is turned into a medical arena, outfitted with medical bays, a pharmacy, and areas for spiritual care, and vision and dental services. Free services include:

• Medical care for the entire family
• Dental for adults only
• Vision for the entire family – Child prescriptions will be filled on-site while adult prescriptions will be mailed or delivered to a pre-designated location.
• Spiritual Care – Prayer partners will roam the facility to pray with the patients but will also have a more private area for more serious discussions
• Foot washing – In the spirit of representing Jesus, we will provide a foot washing, toe nail trimming and foot massage to all who wish to participate. 
• Diabetes screenings for adults only
• Breast Health Exams
• Lab Services – Full lab services provided
• Pharmacy – Prescriptions filled at the event
• Shoes and Socks – during triage, patients will be assessed for the need for new shoes
• Flu Vaccines – adults only
• Food – volunteers will be passing out water, fruit or granola bars to patients.  Caritas will also be on-hand to distribute food and provide resources for the future.
• Community Services – Community resources will be on-hand to assist patients with personal or family needs.

Multiple barriers prevent many in our community from getting the medical, dental and vision care they need. Ascension Medical Mission at Home offers free health, social and support services to those who might not otherwise have access.

Ascension Medical Mission at Home helps meet the medical needs of our community, but it’s also more than just a day of free healthcare. This event helps establish patients with follow-up care and connects them to various resources available in our community. To see the impact of our first Ascension Medical Mission at Home event in Waco, watch this video.

Stories of gratitude abound, including a woman who had been struggling with pain from an infected tooth for three years, got it pulled; another woman was able to start a job after having her tooth pulled; a dad who had been saving for months to buy his son glasses got them for free; women who received mammograms for the first time; many who got prescriptions they needed to improve health, enhancing their quality of life.