Samaritan Street Medicine Team Reaches Those in Need October 1, 2025 Driving around Albany on a sunny August afternoon, the Samaritan InterCommunity Health Clinic Street Medicine Team kept a sharp lookout for anyone in need of medical care. Carrying food, bottled water and medical supplies, the team approached one man who winced in pain as he removed his sock. Later, another woman with skin sores was prescribed antibiotics on the spot, and a third person needing a refill of their asthma inhaler was scheduled for an appointment at the clinic. Street medicine can be slow work, said Dr. Cosimo Storniolo, a physician with Samaritan Health Services. But it’s critical to reach people who are unsheltered or experiencing homelessness who otherwise might not seek care, and who might be at risk of serious illness or infection. “It’s about meeting people where they are at, connecting with them and seeing their lives,” Storniolo said. Building Relationships Storniolo is one of three rotating medical providers on the Street Medicine Team, along with Melissa McPherson and Kristine Niles. They head out with a small team for two hours, once per week to meet with people and provide medical help, which can range from treating open cuts and wounds to administering naloxone for opioid overdoses. Joining Storniolo on Aug. 27 were Jacob Miller and Jubal Johnson, with Samaritan Treatment & Recovery Services (STARS); Margarita Solis, a local community health worker; and Dana Harrington, a medical assistant apprentice. The team also frequently collaborates with Second Chance Shelter in Albany to build connections and trust among those in need. Though some may be wary of the team initially, their approach is friendly and attentive, listening carefully to each person’s needs. In addition to being a community health worker, Solis is an “OHP assister,” meaning she can help people sign up for their Oregon Health Plan benefits and answer any questions they might have. “To have a team that can do all this, it can be life-saving and life-changing,” Miller said. Kari Storkson, operations manager at Samaritan InterCommunity Health Clinic, said street medicine is one way they can reach people who wouldn’t otherwise visit the clinic on their own. Many are low-income, experiencing homelessness or have substance use disorders. “A lot of it is just building relationships with the patients to get them to seek (care),” Storkson said. “Many of them have been treated very poorly and feel judged to the extent that they’re not comfortable seeing an actual primary care provider in the clinic.” Clinic Services Without primary care, Storkson said more patients could land the hospital or emergency room, increasing overall health care costs. “We can write prescriptions in the field so we can make sure if they have a wound and need to be on an antibiotic, they can get started on something right away,” Storkson said. “It’s all about meeting people who won’t reach out necessarily for their own treatment.” Street medicine is just one service offered at the clinic, which opened in 2024 and serves members of InterCommunity Health Network (IHN-CCO) in Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties. The clinic also leverages community partnerships to help patients with social determinants of health, such as housing and food insecurity. The clinic will soon welcome a fourth medical provider, and also has peer support workers, behavioral health specialists and a psychiatrist to provide support with mental health and substance use issues. Patients can attend community-based classes to help manage chronic issues like diabetes or even receive free legal help with non-criminal matters through a partnership between the clinic and Legal Aid Services of Oregon. Located at 1086 SW 7th Ave., Ste. 101, the clinic is next to Samaritan Albany General Hospital where patients can be referred for essential medical services such as lab work and X-rays. “I think the comfort level is wonderful. Patients feel welcomed,” Storkson said. “We’re just trying to get them as many resources as we can.”
