Hospital Discharge Planning Training Workshop
Homeless
Health Care Los Angeles has developed an innovative workshop for local hospital
staff to develop and advance effective systemic strategies for discharge
planning for the homeless. The experiential training program provides hospital
staff important information and the necessary skills and resources needed
to initiate the first steps in a comprehensive "rehabilitative" process
for discharging homeless patients.
The training package includes:
- Preparatory meeting- a review and assessment of the hospital’s current policies for discharging homeless patients is done including how/when a patient is identified as homeless and what procedures are taken before/during/after hospital discharge.
- Focus group(s)- focus group(s) are held with staff involved in hospital discharge planning. Staff is given the opportunity to provide input on the focus of the training and to request additional information on potential topics or issues.
- 4-hour specialized training and education workshop- a specialized training curriculum is developed for each hospital. A licensed clinical social worker conducts the workshop. Training participants learn how not to treat just the episodic problem that brought the homeless patient to the hospital but address the many other ailments and problems that frequently occur among homeless individuals. Participants learn new strategies to assist homeless clients in increasing access to health care, specialty services and other pertinent information to prevent further progression of their disease and reduce frequent usage of uncompensated care. Participants are taught to use effective and culturally sensitive communication skills including mindfulness, harm reduction and motivational interviewing, to incorporate strategies that address specific issues related to homelessness. Participants are taught to effectively identify and refer homeless patients to homeless specific wrap-around services such as stable living options, programs for alcohol/drug treatment or mental health services as well as, general health care.
- Comprehensive homeless resource referral guide/packet- training participants receive a referral guide/packet to assist in their day-to-day discharge planning efforts. Materials are updated regularly to include the latest and most up-to-date referral information.
- Technical assistance- identified hospital discharge planning staff are provided follow-up technical assistance and consultation on discharge planning of homeless patients on an as-needed basis for up to 6-months.
If you are interested in preparing your staff to assist homeless patients at discharge contact Linda Rodriguez, LCSW at 213.381.0513 for more information and a fee schedule. 13 HOSPITALS (8 PRIVATE AND 5 COUNTY) HAVE COMPLETED OR SCHEDULED THE TRAINING PROGRAM AND SEVERAL HOSPITALS ARE RECEIVING ONGOING FOLLOW-UP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
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