If you have ever worked in an ED, you have taken care of a homeless patient. In fact, you’ve probably taken care of many patients you didn’t even know were struggling with homelessness. As providers, we know these people well. They are often labeled “superusers” and, in addition to sometimes acting as their primary care physicians, we often find ourselves trying to sort out their myriad social issues. In this episode, we talk with a homeless patient, multiple ED providers, and expert Dr. Bisan Salhi, about some of the health challenges that our undomiciled patients face, and what role the ED should play in caring for these patients. You’ll hear a variety of opinions on this controversial topic. We then talk with health policy experts, Dr. Nick Sawyer and Dr. Aimee Moulin, about the recently signed California Senate Bill 1152, and how it will affect hour care and discharge of self-identified homeless patients.

Do you screen for homelessness? How do you care for homeless patients in your ED? Will you be affected by CA Senate Bill 1152? This topic is likely to generate some heated conversation. Join us on social media, @empulsepodcast, or on our website, ucdavisem.com, to keep the discussion going. 

Hosts:

Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis

Dr. Julia Magaña, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC Davis

Guests:

Dr. Bisan Salhi,  Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Emory and PhD in Anthropology

Dr. Nick Sawyer, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis, California ACEP Board Member

Dr. Aimee Moulin, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis and President of California ACEP

Resources:

Homelessness and Emergency Medicine: A Review of the Literature.

Salhi BA, White MH, Pitts SR, Wright DW.

Acad Emerg Med. 2018 May;25(5):577-593. doi: 10.1111/acem.13358. Epub 2018 Jan 11.

Get involved through California ACEP!

Read the complete California Senate Bill 1152.

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Register today at tinyurl.com/EMHOTTOPICS

Thank you to the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting this podcast and to Orlando Magaña at OM Audio Productions for audio production services.