Free and low-cost health screenings

Penn Medicine is committed to improving our community’s health by offering free and low-cost health services, including screenings, immunizations, counseling, and education programs. These services are available for adults and children and aim to increase access to essential care, particularly for underserved communities.

Cancer screenings

Penn Medicine offers screenings for breast, cervical, colorectal, prostate, and lung cancers at many of our locations throughout the region.

Learn more.

Mammograms, through our mobile van

Our mobile mammogram van travels to communities throughout the Philadelphia region to make breast cancer screening more accessible. With 3D mammography in a private exam suite, it offers the same quality care you’d find at a Penn Medicine location, right in your neighborhood.

Learn more or request the van at your event.

Eye screenings, through our mobile van

Scheie Eye Institute in MOTION is a mobile eye clinic that provides free eye screenings for the four leading causes of blindness: cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. The mobile unit serves local communities in West Philadelphia and throughout the city and can be scheduled for community or organizational events, health fairs, and employee wellness events. Community members can walk up without an appointment, receive a free screening, and obtain an immediate diagnosis through teleophthalmology consultation.

Exams provided in the Scheie Eye Institute in MOTION clinic are free for everyone, and a pathway has been created to help those without insurance get the care they need. If a patient is found to have a condition that requires additional attention, they'll be able to connect with Penn Medicine providers for follow-up appointments.

The program also provides eye health education to the community, helping residents better understand eye diseases and the importance of ongoing care.

• Find the Scheie Eye Institute in MOTION.
• Request the mobile unit at your next event.

For additional information or questions, please call 215-438-6631.

HIV testing

We provide free, confidential HIV testing at our Comprehensive Care practice in Lancaster. No appointment is needed. The test uses no needles and provides results in 20 minutes. HIV testing is also available at many Penn Medicine family medicine practices with proof of insurance.

Why get tested for HIV?

• Only an HIV test shows if you are infected with HIV. Other routine blood tests you get during a physical exam don’t show if you have HIV. Neither do tests for other sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes, chlamydia, or gonorrhea.
• It may take up to three months for HIV antibodies (made by your body to fight the virus) to show up in a test. If you get tested within three months after possible exposure, you could have HIV, but it may not show. During this time, which varies from person to person, you can still pass HIV to others. If you think you may have been infected with HIV, talk to your doctor or nurse about getting an HIV test, the possible need for follow-up testing, and how to prevent transmitting HIV to others.
• A person with HIV can look and feel healthy and still infect others. HIV can affect anyone, regardless of background. Early diagnosis allows for treatment that can help you live a long and healthy life and reduce the risk of transmission to others. Testing is crucial for family planning and managing health.
• Knowing if you have HIV is very important if you’re planning a family—a woman with HIV can pass it to her baby during pregnancy, labor or breastfeeding.

Types of HIV tests

Ask your doctor which type of test you should have. The test options include:

• A blood test from a vein
• A rapid finger-prick test, with results in minutes

Kidney disease screening

Penn Medicine, in collaboration with the PennKDSAP program and community organizations, offers free health screenings for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and co-morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Screenings are conducted at community centers, churches, and other local venues. All participants are treated with respect and compassion to ensure a positive experience.

The program includes:

• Medical history evaluation
• BMI measurement
• Blood pressure and blood glucose testing
• Urinalysis to assess kidney health and co-morbidities like hypertension and diabetes
• Physician consultations with nephrologists
• Follow-up resources with social workers and complimentary clinics

If you would like to request a free kidney health screening for your community center or event, email PennKDSAP@gmail.com.

Vaccine resources for children

Families with insurance that doesn’t cover immunizations or high deductibles can access vaccines through the following programs:

• PA Department of Health Services: 717-299-7597
• Union Community Care: 717-299-6371
• Welsh Mountain Medical and Dental Center: 717-354-4711