• NAPH members are participating in this project:

  • Boston Medical Center
  • New York Health and Hospital Corporation’s Bellevue Hospital Center, Woodhull Medical & Mental Health Center and Elmhurst Hospital Center
  • Denver Health
  • Grady Memorial
  • Los Angeles County Department of Health Services - LAC+USC Healthcare Network, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center

• Vulnerability Index: Prioritizing the Street Homeless Population by Mortality Risk

  The model for identification of the patients most in need is based on a formula created directly from the research of Drs. Jim O’Connell and Steven Hwang from Boston Medical Center. The Index is designed to facilitate the identification of homeless individuals most at risk for a premature death while living on the street.
  
  Characteristics of the Vulnerability Index:

  • More than three hospitalizations or emergency room visits in a year
  • More than three emergency room visits in the previous three months
  • Age 60 or older
  • Cirrhosis of the liver
  • End-stage renal disease
  • History of frostbite, immersion foot or hypothermia
  • HIV+/AIDs
  • Tri-morbidity: co-occurring psychiatric, substance abuse, and chronic medical condition

• Contact Us:

  If you would like to address these issues at your organization, consider joining this initiative by contacting Jane Hooker at jhooker@naph.org or Catherine Craig at CCraig@commonground.org

• 11/3/10: Meeting the Needs of Special Populations with Special Programs -100,000 Homes Webinar

  Dr. Jim O'Connell discusses the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program. Dr. O'Connell and his team have developed a program to meet the needs of this vulnerable population using the principals of public health. The program involves a comprehensive electronic medical record, tracking longitudinal data on key metrics, compliance for certain screening interventions for preventive care, and outcome measures such as mortality. The program's Board of Directors is composed of individuals who are currently or have been homeless. Later, Becky Kanis from Common Ground discusses the national 100,000 Homes Campaign, developed in conjunction with the IHI to provide sustainable housing for 100,000 of the most vulnerable chronically homeless individuals. Individuals are prioritized as most in need of housing by the Vulnerability Index - developed by the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless team. Finally, Elizabeth Boyce from LA County Department of Health Services discusses the current activities supported in her community to develop appropriate and comprehensive services for this group of individuals. Speakers: James J. O’Connell, M.D., President, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
  
  Becky Kanis, Director, Innovation, Common Ground
  
  Elizabeth Boyce, Homeless Services Manager, Los Angeles County Department of Health
  

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