After discovering that Nashville's homeless visit the ER three times as much as those experiencing homelessness in other many other cities do, this comes as great - and cost effective - news indeed."With the new funds, organization officials say, every homeless person in the city stands to receive free medical care if they want it."
Homeless will get free care
Thanks to grant, walk-in clinics will expand services
Homeless people across the city will have access to primary health care thanks to a nearly $1.2 million federal grant and the plans of one Nashville nonprofit to expand care.
United Neighborhood Health Services will use the money to provide medical, dental and behavioral health care to the city's homeless in a network of walk-in clinics across the city. With the new funds, organization officials say, every homeless person in the city stands to receive free medical care if they want it.
They expect to serve more than 5,000 homeless people a year. The grant is renewable annually if all the service requirements are met.
"This makes it possible for (homeless) people to get more comprehensive primary care without having to go great distances," said Mary Bufwack, CEO of United Neighborhood Health Services.
This month, the nonprofit took over medical services at the Downtown Clinic from the Metro Public Health Department and is now seeing about 50 patients a day. The organization has five other clinics across the city, and all the clinics will be linked with an electronic health record system so patients can go to any clinic any time it's open.
Beginning Dec. 1, the organization also will operate a mobile medical van that will travel to shelters, outreach programs and other locations where the homeless gather.
"They don't have to go to downtown to get medical care — this will hopefully keep them closer to areas of the city in which they might already live or have transitional housing or where they might be going for their lunch program," Bufwack said. "It distributes care throughout the city in a more even way."
A van will be available to take the homeless to and from appointments, if needed.
Health-care officials say they will offer every service, from gynecology to neurology to substance abuse programs, in the clinics. Medications and prescriptions also will be provided on site.
Advocates say the new plan should help cut down on the number of emergency room visits by the homeless and save taxpayers money. A recent study by the Nashville nonprofit Park Center showed that Nashville's homeless visited hospitals three times more often than homeless in other cities.
"If there's no van coming to North Nashville, you might just choose to use Metro General Hospital. If there's no van coming to West Nashville, you might just choose to go to Vanderbilt," Bufwack said.
"If it wasn't for the clinic, I'd be in bad shape," she said, sitting in a patient room at the Downtown Clinic on Friday morning. "Taxpayers would be paying more money because I'd be in the hospital. This allows somebody like me without insurance to be able to still maintain my health care."
The waiting room at the Downtown Clinic was full Friday morning, and doctors there say they consistently have 40 people lined up outside before they open. They are so presed for space that they've created exam rooms out of offices and plan to renovate to make more room.
"These are tough times, and sickness doesn't take an appointment," said Dr. Keith Junior, chief medical officer of United Neighborhood Health Services. "They've got health-care needs, acute and chronic, and sometimes they know it and sometimes they do not."
Studies show that on average, chronically homeless people die 20 years sooner than the rest of the population.
Last month, Park Center surveyed 320 of Nashville's homeless and found that 134 are so sick that they risk dying in the streets if not placed in immediate housing. Providing health care is a step toward addressing part of the problem, advocates say, and doctors will be keeping tabs on patients' progress.
"A lot of times we think of care in terms of numbers served and number of visits," Bufwack said. "We will be monitoring very carefully for actual health improvement — is their diabetes improving? Is their hypertension under control? Are the babies born to pregnant homeless women healthful?"
For four months, Chris Rastbichler has been living in the Hope Center at the Nashville Rescue Mission, where she's in treatment for alcoholism. She also has diabetes and Addison's disease, which affects the adrenal glands.
But things are looking up now that she's got a regular doctor.
"I'm in better health now than I ever have been," Rastbichler said at the Downtown Clinic. "As long as I can continue to come here, I'll continue to do good. Knowing someone cares gives me inspiration to do better."
Contact Rachel Stults at 615-726-8904 or rstults@tenness
United Neighborhood Health Services will use the money to provide medical, dental and behavioral health care to the city's homeless in a network of walk-in clinics across the city. With the new funds, organization officials say, every homeless person in the city stands to receive free medical care if they want it.
"This makes it possible for (homeless) people to get more comprehensive primary care without having to go great distances," said Mary Bufwack, CEO of United Neighborhood Health Services.
This month, the nonprofit took over medical services at the Downtown Clinic from the Metro Public Health Department and is now seeing about 50 patients a day. The organization has five other clinics across the city, and all the clinics will be linked with an electronic health record system so patients can go to any clinic any time it's open.
Beginning Dec. 1, the organization also will operate a mobile medical van that will travel to shelters, outreach programs and other locations where the homeless gather.
"They don't have to go to downtown to get medical care — this will hopefully keep them closer to areas of the city in which they might already live or have transitional housing or where they might be going for their lunch program," Bufwack said. "It distributes care throughout the city in a more even way."
A van will be available to take the homeless to and from appointments, if needed.
Health-care officials say they will offer every service, from gynecology to neurology to substance abuse programs, in the clinics. Medications and prescriptions also will be provided on site.
Advocates say the new plan should help cut down on the number of emergency room visits by the homeless and save taxpayers money. A recent study by the Nashville nonprofit Park Center showed that Nashville's homeless visited hospitals three times more often than homeless in other cities.
"If there's no van coming to North Nashville, you might just choose to use Metro General Hospital. If there's no van coming to West Nashville, you might just choose to go to Vanderbilt," Bufwack said.
Now there's hope
Barbara James had to quit her job because of her host of medical conditions. With a heart condition, diabetes and hypertension, James found herself uninsured and with no money to pay her rent. She and her four children have been staying with a friend in East Nashville, but one thing is now a constant: She knows she can find health care no matter where she is in the city."If it wasn't for the clinic, I'd be in bad shape," she said, sitting in a patient room at the Downtown Clinic on Friday morning. "Taxpayers would be paying more money because I'd be in the hospital. This allows somebody like me without insurance to be able to still maintain my health care."
The waiting room at the Downtown Clinic was full Friday morning, and doctors there say they consistently have 40 people lined up outside before they open. They are so presed for space that they've created exam rooms out of offices and plan to renovate to make more room.
"These are tough times, and sickness doesn't take an appointment," said Dr. Keith Junior, chief medical officer of United Neighborhood Health Services. "They've got health-care needs, acute and chronic, and sometimes they know it and sometimes they do not."
Studies show that on average, chronically homeless people die 20 years sooner than the rest of the population.
Last month, Park Center surveyed 320 of Nashville's homeless and found that 134 are so sick that they risk dying in the streets if not placed in immediate housing. Providing health care is a step toward addressing part of the problem, advocates say, and doctors will be keeping tabs on patients' progress.
"A lot of times we think of care in terms of numbers served and number of visits," Bufwack said. "We will be monitoring very carefully for actual health improvement — is their diabetes improving? Is their hypertension under control? Are the babies born to pregnant homeless women healthful?"
For four months, Chris Rastbichler has been living in the Hope Center at the Nashville Rescue Mission, where she's in treatment for alcoholism. She also has diabetes and Addison's disease, which affects the adrenal glands.
But things are looking up now that she's got a regular doctor.
"I'm in better health now than I ever have been," Rastbichler said at the Downtown Clinic. "As long as I can continue to come here, I'll continue to do good. Knowing someone cares gives me inspiration to do better."
Contact Rachel Stults at 615-726-8904 or rstults@tenness
