Wednesday, September 18, 2013
12 – 5 p.m.
Health Care for the Homeless 101
In the late 1980s, a group of clinicians and service providers demonstrated particular ways of providing health care to people experiencing homelessness. This delivery model, now known as health care for the homeless, helps alleviate suffering and support the recovery of people experiencing homelessness. It is a model of care that, while not taught in most health professions’ schools, has demonstrated success in the care for and recovery of people experiencing homelessness. Designed by HCH providers, this interactive course introduces students to the realities of homelessness, the HCH model of care, and the large community of HCH consumers, advocates, and providers.
Presenters: Greg Morris, PA-C; Program Director, Peak Vista Homeless Health Center; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Deborah Borne, MD, MSW; Medical Coordinator, Department of Public Health; San Francisco
Room: Salon A
Making the ACA Work for Clients and Communities
Many communities have already participated in California’s “Bridge to Reform” Medicaid program. After two years of outreach, 383,000 individuals had been enrolled according to an independent report delivered in May 2012. This first part of this session will highlight lessons learned from different counties. Participants will explore several communication strategies, such as effective messaging in outreach and enrollment materials, as well as suggested venues for outreach events, the enrollment process and advocacy methods to improve it, and barriers to enrollment.
The second part of this session will address delivery of care and access to services. Change is already occurring in the delivery of care for providers in Region IX. Topics will include waiting lists for services, provider take-up rate, changes in referral processes, and challenges in connecting clients to care. Providers will also provide opinions on quality of care and observations about the impact on clinical services as well as the ongoing challenges to meeting clinical needs and strategies to overcome them.
Presenter: Barbara DiPietro, PhD; Director of Policy, National Health Care for the Homeless Council; Baltimore; Kandis Driscoll, BS; Workgroup Director, Insure the Uninsured Project; Santa Monica, California; Mark Refowitz, DC, DMH, MHMA; Director, Orange County Health Agency; Santa Ana, California; Aracely Navarro, Policy Coordinator, California Primary Care Association; Sacramento, California (invited)
Room: Salon B
Medical Respite Care
Medical respite programs provide acute and post-acute medical care for homeless persons who are too ill or frail to recover from a physical illness or injury on the streets but are not ill enough to remain in a hospital. Medical respite programs are increasingly being integrated into health reform efforts aimed at improving quality of care for vulnerable populations while reducing costs related to avoidable and frequent hospital utilization. This workshop will provide an overview of medical respite care, the evidence base supporting medical respite programs, and programmatic and clinical structures that help improve continuity of care, increase self-management, and reduce systemwide health care costs. Attendees will also have an opportunity to talk to clinicians and administrators engaged in two different medical respite program models. Faculty from the Los Angeles-based JWCH Institute Recuperative Care Program and the Seattle-based Edward Thomas House will describe the ins and outs of their program designs and the impacts these programs have had on patient health and community costs.
Presenters: Paul Leon, RN, PHN; Chief Executive Officer, Illumination Foundation; Irvine, California; Willie Mackey, Regional Representative, National Consumer Advisory Board; Palo Alto, California; Leslie Enzian, MD; Medical Director, Edward Thomas Medical Respite; Seattle; Al Ballesteros, MBA; Chief Executive Officer, John Wesley Community Health Institute, Inc.; Los Angeles; Paul Gregerson, MD, MBA; Chief Medical Officer, John Wesley Community Health Institute, Inc.; Los Angeles
Room: Trabuco