Phoenix (AZ Family) — Telos Heath is expanding its reach by providing medical services on the streets. With the growing number of community members experiencing homelessness, Telos' vans are going to various parks in Phoenix to try to meet people where they are.
“We're just trying to shut down a broken health care system when it comes to people who don't have housing,” said Cassandra Haglund, a registered nurse who believes homelessness shouldn't prevent people from receiving health care. To tell.
The van is part of a three-year, $2 million outpatient portable pilot program funded by the U.S. Department of Health's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Telos Health joins the City of Vernon, Calif., and the University of California, San Francisco, as three of his organizations nationally awarded SAMHSA-funded Minority AIDS/HIV grants focused on homelessness and HIV prevention.
“We have two vans, so we basically have two units,” said Karen DiFrancesco, director of recovery services at Telos Health.
The refurbished van has a retro-themed design: “disco'' and “groovy.'' Each has a certified nurse, peer outreach specialist, clinician or counselor who will cover basic medical needs, including STI/HIV testing, as well as assistance with primary care and behavioral health appointments.
“Of course, we can test blood sugar levels and blood pressure,” Haglund explained. “I do a lot of wound care. A lot of these people have wounds that have been very difficult for them.”
Patients beyond these basic needs are sent to Telos Health Clinic and transported there in one of the vans.
“You can hop on it and you're good to go. Of course, from a medical standpoint, we'll take you literally anywhere,” Haglund said. “We bring people to DES (Arizona Department of Economic Security) for food stamp cards and health insurance.”
The program launched last month and has already met its goal of serving up to 150 people in its first year, with at least 80% of those with behavioral health needs scheduled for follow-up appointments. It also refers at least 80% of people who test positive for infectious diseases to treatment.
Haglund says some days are busier than others.
“Some days it's like 5 o'clock, other days it's like 8 o'clock,” she says. “Of course, there are some people who don't want too much from us, but with Telos providing, we can get them to their appointments and take them to the park.”
The team also hopes to serve as a bridge to other services by providing housing resources, cell phone bills, and food. Currently, the van takes him out three times a week, but eventually he hopes to expand to five days. They are also working on developing a plan to let community members know where they will be on what days.
Was there a spelling or grammatical error in your story? Click here to report.
Have a breaking news photo or video? Submit that's for us here Comes with a simple explanation.
Copyright 2024 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
