Dr. Buck Appointed to CO-OP Board

Dr. David Buck has been appointed to the 15-member Advisory Board of the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) Program.  The board, newly created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will make recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services on grants and loans to establish nonprofit, member-run health insurers serving the individual and small-group markets.. (read GAO Press Release)

Ms. Isbell Addresses National Conference

Frances Isbell, Executive Director, presented Integrated Care, Goal-Negotiated Care and Jail Inreach at the annual conference of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, meeting June 2-5 in San Francisco. 

VIVA Volunteers
The Volunteer Appreciation Picnic was held Saturday, May 8 from 12-2 at Christ Church Cathedral.

Success Stories
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Examples of courageous people who are taking steps out of homelessness.

Achievements and Outcomes

Thanks to our donors, volunteers, and hard working staff, we’ve seen tremendous growth in the homeless people we’ve been able to serve in the past 8 years. In fact, since we opened in 2000, we’ve seen almost a 6-fold increase in total people served.

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Throughout 2008, we delivered primary and ancillary care, dental care and supportive services to 8,674 homeless men, women, and children. Breaking down the numbers shows the following:

14,240 patient visits
56,700 units of care
3,505 people received medical care
920 people received dental care
5,169 passengers on bus
211 people received eye exams and eyewear
374 inmates received ‘inreach’ services

In late 2008, Healthcare for the Homeless – Houston incorporated telepsychiatry into the clinical services at the SEARCH clinic to enhance its level of psychiatric care and to provide on demand consultation for patients as needed. The service has video conferencing capability with a response rate of 90 minutes or less. Consultations consist of initial or concurrent staffing with an HHH clinician; diagnostic interview; development of a treatment plan; and, delivery of medical record documentation. The new technology shows considerable promise in treating homeless men and women, with significant cost benefit. It has been expanded to Cathedral Clinic in early 2009.