Community Outreach

Mercy Health Services of Baltimore, Maryland, is committed to sharing God’s healing love for all people. Our doctors, nurses and staff work together with local charities and organizations to serve those in need by providing excellent clinical care and residential services within a community of compassionate care.

 

Serving the Vulnerable and Underserved

Community Health Needs Assessment through the value of Justice – Working with the Baltimore City Health Department, Mercy Medical Center has developed a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and Implementation Plan to improve the health of the neighborhoods surrounding Mercy’s downtown campus. Mercy’s Implementation Plan is focusing on services to our homeless neighbors, victims of violence and abuse, reducing low birth weights and bringing additional health care education resources to the community.

Federally Qualified Health Centers through the value of Dignity — Family Health Centers of Baltimore, Total Health Care and Health Care for the Homeless are Federally Qualified Health Centers which provide high-quality, cost-efficient and accessible health care regardless of insurance status. Mercy has a longstanding history and partnership with these important community health resources.

Mercy Family Violence Response Program through the value of Dignity — The Mercy Family Violence Response Program (MercyFVRP) provides confidential services to patients and employees who are victims of violence, abuse and neglect, including domestic violence, sexual assault and vulnerable adult abuse. The MercyFVRP offers counseling, crisis intervention, safety planning, danger assessment, counseling/legal resource linkage, advocacy, documentation and free short-term individual follow-up counseling regarding domestic violence. The program educates Mercy employees and consults with physicians and staff to assist victims of abuse.

Mercy’s Substance Abuse and Medical Detoxification through the value of Justice — Mercy offers one of two inpatient detoxification units in Baltimore City and provides physician subsidies for the professional component of these inpatient services. Of note, a number of diseases and medical conditions are over-represented in patients with substance abuse (e.g. Infectious Disease, Gastroenterology). Consultative and follow up care with appropriate specialists also are supported.

The Forensic Nurse Examiner Program through the value of Justice — The Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE) Program (formerly the SAFE Program) provides care to victims of sexual, domestic, human trafficking, child, elder and institutional violence. The centerpiece of Mercy’s program is a skilled team of Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNEs) who document the details of the assault, collect crucial time-sensitive evidence and perform medical exams, tests and treatments. In order to raise awareness and reduce violence, the program's leadership and certified nursing staff provide community education about domestic violence and sexual assault to law enforcement, the legal community, community organizations, local high schools and colleges. The FNE Program is the designated site for forensic patients in Baltimore City and the only comprehensive program of its kind in Maryland.

Health Care for the Homeless through the value of Justice — Mercy Medical Center is a founding partner of Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) which works to prevent and end homelessness for vulnerable individuals and families. HCH offers quality, integrated health care and promotes access to affordable housing and sustainable incomes through direct service, advocacy and community engagement. In addition to Mercy providers and staff supporting the health care needs of HCH clients, Mercy joined a collaboration in the City to provide housing case management and tenancy support services to individuals being housed via a Medicaid pilot project known as the Assistance in Community Integration Services (ACIS) program. In partnership with Baltimore City shelters, the HCH Convalescent Care Program provides 24-hour shelter, recuperative care, case management and nursing assistance for individuals with medical conditions not appropriate for hospitalization.

B’more for Healthy Babies (BHB) through the value of Excellence — Mercy is a partner of B’more for Healthy Babies (BHB), a public health initiative to reduce Baltimore City’s high rate of infant deaths and promote healthy families. BHB focuses on advancing the health of Baltimore mothers and babies so that infants are born at a healthy weight, full term and ready to thrive in healthy families. This collaborative initiative aims to improve the quality of care provided to pregnant and postpartum women. A member of Mercy's senior leadership team along with Robert O. Atlas, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mercy, and a recognized expert in at-risk pregnancy, serve on the B’more for Healthy Babies Steering Committee – Strategies to Improve Birth Outcomes (SIBO).

Serving those Affected by Cancer

The Red Devils through the value of Stewardship — The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy is a partner of The Red Devils, a nonprofit organization based in Baltimore that funds support services to families in Maryland living with breast cancer. Services include transportation to and from treatment and assistance with drug co-payments, meals and groceries. The Red Devils also has provided support for acupuncture treatments for breast cancer patients with limited financial resources.

Helping Hands through the value of Stewardship — Within The Institute for Cancer Care at Mercy, Helping Hands is a volunteer-run program that provides free wigs and other head coverings for Mercy’s chemotherapy patients. The Mildred Mindell Cancer Foundation and other benefactors provide financial support for the program. The program offers enhancement services, including custom wig fitting assistance.

Heat It To Beat It through the value of Stewardship — Heat It To Beat It is an annual fundraising event held in Baltimore to support peritoneal carcinomatosis, a rare cancer of the tissue surrounding the organs. The 2.8 mile walk is led by Dr. Armando Sardi, Director of The Institute for Cancer Care at Mercy. The walk helps to bring much needed awareness to the disease and provides funding for continued education and research.

Additional Support and Outreach

In addition to the programs mentioned above, the doctors, nurses and staff at Mercy Medical Center are continuously striving to live the values of the Sisters at Mercy by providing compassionate care and support on a daily basis. The hospital hosts a number of events and programs throughout the year, including but not limited to the following:

NICU Reunion – Annual gathering hosted by the The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mercy for families of previous NICU babies and their caretakers at Mercy. 

National Cancer Survivor Day – Mercy participates in this nationally recognized day celebrated annually in June.