TCHC gets major financial boost to support expansion of health care services for the homeless.

Jan. 11, 2012 - PRLog -- Tri-City Health Center (TCHC) was awarded a second round of grant funding for $30,000 by The Boston Scientific Foundation to support the expansion of its mobile health clinic providing health care, social services, housing assistance, substance recovery, and case management for the homeless of Fremont and Livermore.

The housing crisis, high unemployment rate and the increase in medical coverage have underlined an increasing need for chronic care services for families and children in the TCHC community.  In these trying times TCHC, as a community health steward, is ramping up the Homeless Outreach for People Empowerment (HOPE) program to meet the ever growing community health care needs.  The HOPE program has been well received by the TCHC community and provides excellent, no cost and reliable care including medical examinations, medical treatments and medication to TCHC's homeless and most vulnerable populations.  

Starting July 1, 2011, TCHC commenced work on expanding the HOPE program to self-sustenance over four years, with objectives of increasing access to care, comprehensive services and an improved enrollment in benefits programs. During 2012, TCHC expects to treat 500 homeless patients and provide 1,900 medical services.  With the HOPE expansion initiative, TCHC expects to screen all HOPE patients for benefits eligibility and get 85% of patients covered by a public insurance program.  The expansion will allow TCHC to provide case management and other supportive health services including chronic care, health education, and medication adherence.  “The HOPE program is the only access to healthcare for a majority of homeless people in Fremont.  The TCHC expansion initiative to provide and sustain more services is the need of the hour. It is fantastic that organizations like The Boston Scientific Foundation continue to fund and support TCHC's HOPE project and make a real difference in meeting the chronic health care needs of the homeless population” said Leigh Hammond, TCHC Nurse Practitioner on the HOPE team.

The continued funding from The Boston Scientific Foundation reinforces TCHC’s success and commitment to the HOPE project.  The Boston Scientific Foundation grant will have a significant impact on TCHC’s ability to improve coordination of care for the HOPE Project patients.

“While every day is a struggle for our homeless population, access to medical care should not be one of those problems.  Our HOPE services improve the health outcomes of homeless patients with chronic diseases and reduce emergency room visits through strong preventive care. The cost of care in an emergency room (ER) is enormous and a short visit to our HOPE unit can save our overburdened public health care system thousands of dollars in medical care. The Boston Scientific Foundation is an important partner in this initiative, providing us with the support needed to expand our health safety net” said Loretta McEldowney, TCHC Clinical Programs Manager.

The HOPE Project was established in 1999 by TCHC, Abode Services, the City of Fremont, and Alameda County. The long term goal of the HOPE Project is to improve the health of the homeless population in southern and eastern Alameda County through increased access to and utilization of comprehensive care.

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TCHC is a nonprofit, federally qualified health center that serves low-income, uninsured and homeless residents in Alameda County, California and offers high-quality primary medical, dental and behavioral health care services for the entire family.