In a recent conversation with a doctor (who also sits on our Board of Directors) I learned that the hospital system doesn't do a good job of tracking those without a place of residence. It had been decided by someone in hospital registration that everyone must have an address to put in to their computer system. If it is a required field in their software program, there are ways around this - such as creating a code for those without a place of residence (e.g. 9999). This would be helpful because one could later run a report for all the 9999 addresses and know how many individuals were admitted and/or discharged without a place of residence.
This doctor told me that she currently had three of 30 patients in her wound care center who are homeless. That is a large percentage! One man who is living in his car was forced to enter an address upon registration. His solution - four digits from his drivers license and the word Ford. Why Ford? Because that is the make of car he drives.
More and more I admire the compassion of those who want to help this population in their time of medical need - which is simply an added complication to an already desperate situation.
just Sheri, saddened that this is happening in America
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