Abstract

Access to health care has become increasingly difficult for homeless populations due to numerous barriers that limit ability to seek proper care. Street medicine is a rising intervention in health care in which health screenings and treatments are completed within patient homeless encampments. This study will look at unhoused individuals seeking health care treatment in local emergency departments (ED) in Bakersfield, CA. Identifying the characteristics and barriers to healthcare in the homeless population will allow for increased utilization of street medicine and decreased overflow of the ED. Quality assessments and evaluation of street medicine efficacy will allow for better allocation of community resources for this population and within the ED. Patient data from the ED (n=55) showed 14.5% of patients were level 4/5 traumas that could have likely been treated by the street medicine team. 34.5% of the patients are uninsured and could benefit from the street medicine team’s resources to help with insurance enrollment. 23.6% of patients have 5 or more ED visits in the last 3 years. Preliminary surveying of Clinica Sierra Vista’s street medicine (SM) patients (n=13) showed that 84.6% cited SM team rapport as the primary reason for continued use of the service. Our initial data assessment suggests that there is the potential for the street medicine program to eliminate several barriers to care experienced by this community while increasing patient satisfaction and trust.