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BWH (see also Care Coordination)
The mission of Brigham and Women’s Hospital Task Force on Homelessness
is to ensure access to optimal health care for homeless and marginally
housed adults who seek either primary or acute medical care at Brigham
and Women’s Hospital. The task force, which was established in
1994, believes that these individuals are entitled to quality health
care services regardless of their ability to pay. The task force also
recognizes that this population has unique circumstances which impact
the delivery of optimal health care.
The task force engages in educational activities to enhance awareness
of the factors influencing health care for the homeless. Armed with
greater appreciation for the needs of these individuals, the task
force has developed the ambitious programmatic goals of: (1) fostering
within the hospital community an increased understanding of the issues
related to homelessness and respect for this population, (2) providing
a range of services necessary to deliver optimal health care to these
individuals, and (3) facilitating opportunities for BWH employees
and staff to volunteer in the Boston homeless community.
Membership on the task force is open to employees and staff of the
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital,
Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, the Emergency Shelter Commission
for the City of Boston and Harvard Community Health Plan’s Alliance
for the Homeless, as well as others who are experienced in health
service delivery to the homeless are also invited to participate on
the task force. Task force meetings are usually held on the second
Thursday of each month from 4-5:00 p.m. in the Bayles Conference Room
(PBB-B3) unless otherwise notified.
MGH
Caring for patients who have no stable housing often presents extraordinary
challenges for the House Officer, whether in an in- or out-patient
setting. Call the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program at MGH
(BHCHP@MGH) messaging center at (617) 724-3729 to let us know of a
patient's whereabouts and your clinical needs. BHCHP at MGH works
in close cooperation with local providers and shelter staff and is
fully integrated into the wider Boston Health Care for the Homeless
Program.
An interdisciplinary group of MGH care providers is available to assist
in the management of in- or out-patients. We are committed to providing
rapid follow-up of patients seen in the ED or inpatient floors. Bedside
consultation can be made on an as-needed basis. Calling to let us
know of a homeless patient's admission or to ask specific questions
may assist in the development of optimal care and efficient discharge
plans. We usually can see your patient within one working day of getting
your call.
If your patient is being discharged off-hours from the ED and no return
appointment can be made, we suggest asking the patient to follow-up
in the Homeless Clinic within 72 hours. Faxing the clinical information
to (617) 724-0189 or leaving a voice mail at (617) 724-3729 will assist
in our follow-up care. For primary care appointments with the Homeless
Clinic in the Medical Walk-In Unit call (617) 726-2707.
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