Title: Are hospitals 'dumping' homeless patients on shelters, service agencies in Sacramento? | The Sacramento Bee
Headings: Are hospitals 'dumping' homeless patients on shelters, service agencies in Sacramento? | The Sacramento Bee
Are hospitals 'dumping' homeless patients on shelters, service agencies in Sacramento? | The Sacramento Bee
Homelessness
‘It was a scary thing.’ Hospital dumps senior at homeless shelter. He’s not the first
By Cynthia Hubert
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Content: Those plans are specific to each person, and “may include providing transportation and determining bed availability at shelters,” she said. She noted that Dignity Health works with community partners to provide services to homeless people, including mental health outreach and interim care for those recently released from the hospital. Officials at Sutter Health, which is considered a local leader in innovative programs for homeless people, said hospitals have an obligation to make sure all patients are released to a safe setting. Sutter’s staffers prepare detailed “transition of care” plans for homeless patients who remain frail but are well enough for release from the hospital. The plan might include respite care at one of about three dozen beds at Volunteers of America and Salvation Army for recently released homeless patients, said Keri Thomas, vice president of external affairs for Sutter Health Valley Area. Depending upon their needs, patients can receive “wraparound” services including substance abuse treatment and help with finding housing and resolving insurance issues, Thomas said. “The goal is to give them that warm hand-off instead of putting them in taxis,” she said. “ It’s something our hospitals take very seriously.” The respite beds are available to patients released from hospitals throughout the city, Thomas said. But they often are occupied, or patients refuse to accept them.