Public Health
Update
Street Medicine San Joaquin Engaging and Addressing Medical and Social Needs
DOREATIA HART, BSN, RN, PHN • BARB ALBERSON, MPH • MAGGIE PARK, MD
addresses illnesses/infections before reaching advanced stages. Through assertive, coordinated, and collaborative enhanced care management, Street Medicine can be the beginning process in achieving higher levels of medical, mental health, and social care. (Street Medicine Institute, 2023)
Street Medicine San Joaquin
Background
Street Medicine began in the 1980’s as a health discipline to address the alarming rate of unmet health care needs on the streets. Street Medicine is a whole person care approach that provides health and social services that specifically address the unique needs and circumstances of the unsheltered homeless community. These services are delivered directly to them in their own environment utilizing a highly skilled multidisciplinary team. Visiting people in their own environment facilitates necessary relationships and trust building for a highly vulnerable and socially marginalized population. This practice has been shown to decrease overutilization of local emergency rooms and
54 SAN JOAQUIN PHYSICIAN
San Joaquin County Public Health Services’ Whole Person Care Program, in collaboration with San Joaquin Health Centers and Behavioral Health Services, will launch Street Medicine San Joaquin in Spring 2023. Street Medicine San Joaquin will provide direct care on the streets to meet homeless unhoused individuals where they are in their own environment and on their own terms. Street Medicine San Joaquin will utilize the SJ Health Medical Mobile Unit “Moby” to assist with addressing health care priorities as well as social conditions that have an impact on health. In collaboration with San Joaquin Health Centers, Public Health, and Behavioral Health, street services will include medical care (urgent/primary), enhanced care management, navigation of social and support services, rapid
SUMMER 2023