Medical Care for the Homeless

[Hoplite]

This is an idea that was kicked around a few years ago by myself and a couple of friends but we decided against it due to lack of legal expertise and frankly lack of appropriate medical knowledge.

The town I grew up in had...an extremely un-enlightened view of the homeless. Anyone who lived within the city limits and did not have a fixed address would be scooped up by the police, bussed to an un-incorporated part of some other area, and then dumped.

When I got older, I had a chance to interact with some of the homeless community in my old hometown and many of them had some serious (but fairly easily treatable) medical conditions. A group of us had considered the idea of group of volunteer medics who visit the homeless wherever they may be to provide basic field medical care to the homeless.

These medics wouldn't be able to perform very extensive care, but even the most rudimentary care is more than most of the homeless have access to.

Part of the issue is none of us have any real medical experience nor are we terribly familiar with the legal framework surrounding a proposal of this issue. Living in California, there is undoubtedly some set of laws that deals with this.

So I am asking for input of any kind. What kind of medical training would be needed to make this kind of group effective and where could it be learned? What are the legal concerns with an idea like this? Are there any other special considerations?

[Political_Chucky]

Well I guess the only thing I would recommend is having some funds to do this. Even if there are legal concerns, just do it. The homeless need some help, but I wouldn't suggest trying to overtake something serious that you cannot handle or that really needs a doctors medical advice and expertise. Maybe supplying them with vitamins or things of that nature would be your in power without the risk of hurting somebody.

Its funny that your doing this though, even though it is a good cause or good intentions, because of the fact I am not homeless, have had a job for several years(til a few months ago) and have never had ANY health care:huh:

[Le Libérer]

I am on the board of directors for our local initiative of the homeless. There maybe resources available locally where you can volunteer to an already in place program. Check out this national site for resources available to you where you are.

http://www.nrchmi.samhsa.gov/default.aspx

[Amphictyonis]

That fine they're going to get for not having insurance sure will help them get back on their feet.

[chimx]

To begin with, I believe you will be safe legally thanks to the Good Samaritan Laws (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Samaritan_law) in the United States. They are more for helping people in emergency situations (e.g.: giving CPR to a heart attack victim), I believe they would apply to you as well. It is just important that you get consent first.

My fiancée is an ICU nurse at the biggest trauma hospital in the pacific north west. She deals with the homeless quite regularly, and from what I gather the major problems she gets are infections that are so far along they require amputation. This often includes necrotizing fasciitis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necrotizing_fasciitis), especially between toes and on the arm due to the usage of dirty needles with heroin addicts.

Now, you are not a pharmacist and can't give antibiotics, but I think it would be useful if you learned how to identify infections, and educated yourself on patient rights in a hospital so that you can pass that information along to people. For example, it is illegal for a hospital to turn someone away due to a lack of funds.

I hope that helps.