The challenge of providing healthcare services to homeless individuals is an issue every community faces. To answer the call, a coalition of partners formed the Southern Arizona Health Village for the Homeless. This vital community service reaches some of the area’s most vulnerable citizens.
Tucson’s homeless population exceeds 4,000 people on any given day. Families actually represent one-third of this group. These men, women, teenagers and small children are all in need of health care. The Southern Arizona Health Village for the Homeless came together to address this problem. The Carondelet Foundation secured a financial commitment of $2 million dollars over the next five years to support a collaborative group to serve the area’s homeless population. The goal is to provide a convenient and seamless healthcare delivery system outside the traditional medical system.
Primary Objectives
- Establish a consortium of partners
- Create a continuum of care
- Increase the number of healthcare service visits for homeless individuals
- Improve clinical outcomes of the homeless
- Reduce inappropriate use of emergency department resources
Consortium of Partners
Community Subject Matter Experts
Community groups and community subject matter experts also have helped bring the Southern Arizona Health Village for the Homeless program to fruition through their tireless support and participation on work groups.
- Casa Maria
- Community Partnership of Southern Arizona
- Dependable Health Services
- Old Pueblo
- St. Elizabeth’s Health Center
- University Physicians Healthcare
- Victory Worship Center
- Z-Mansion
- Tucson Fire Department
Delivery System
The program’s flagship effort is a modified 38-foot recreational vehicle equipped to provide mobile medical services. This “Van of Hope” visits shelters, churches and other places where homeless individuals often gather. On board, a nurse practitioner, community health outreach worker and other volunteers provide the following services:
- Health assessments
- Medical treatment
- Medications
- Case management
- Community referrals
- Specialty care
Technology plays a key role on the Van of Hope. Equipped with telemedicine exam cameras, the Van of Hope offers mobile services such as tele-dermatology, tele-wound care and other consultations. The van is equipped with Next Gen Electronic Health Record software.
Continuum of Care
The health village collaborative also serves the homeless with the following:
- Acute-care
- Case management and social service outreach to homeless children
- Behavioral health screenings and 24-hour crisis assessment
- Health ministry training to churches and faith-based communities
Measurable Outcomes
Reducing the inappropriate use of emergency department resources is an important component of addressing the adverse effects of the homeless on the health care system. Significant costs are attributed to inappropriate emergency and inpatient admissions for conditions that are often preventable. Because of a lack of primary care, many otherwise preventable health conditions worsen for homeless individuals. The Van of Hope offers early detection and treatment of many such conditions.
The Southern Arizona Health Village for the Homeless advisory council will ensure measurable outcomes to determine the effectiveness of these interventions.
Southern Arizona Health Village for the Homeless Advisory Council:
Carondelet Health Network
Lori Milus, Tara Sklar, Donna Zazworsky, Virgil Hancock, Gwen Gallegos, Leslie Carlson
El Rio Community Health Center
Dr. Douglas Spegman, Kathy Byrne, Ken Burton, Pamela Gleason, Tara Radke, Dr. Barry London, Chris Cornelius, Tony Felix
Interfaith Coalition for the Homeless
Lori Block
Pima County Access Program
Michal Goforth
Primavera Foundation
Peggy Hutchison
Contact Us
Kathy Hall
Manager, Southern Arizona Health Village for the Homeless Program
Email:
kathy.hall@carondelet.org
Phone: ( 520) 872-4487