HCH Directory - Indiana

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ECHO Community Health Care, Inc.

Mailing Address:
501 John Street, Suite 12
Evansville, IN 47713
Location:
970 SE Eighth Street
Evansville, IN 47713
Phone: (812) 436-0224
Fax: (812) 436-0223
Email: whatfield@echochc.org
Web: www.echochc.org
Director: Rosemary Knight, RN, MSN
HCH Coordinator: Michelle Fleck, RN
Medical Director: David Lippman, MD
UDS Number: 058490

Project Description

ECHO Community Health Care (ECHC) provides services to persons who are homeless, uninsured, or underinsured at three sites. The Health Care for the Homeless team consists of full time employees, including a physician, a family nurse practitioner, five registered nurses, two social workers, a homeless health coordinator, and a social service coordinator.

ECHC provides comprehensive primary care, minor acute care, case management, basic laboratory and x-ray services, wellness education, immunizations, prescription assistance, dental care, optometry, emergency services, school physicals, Hoosier Healthwise enrollment, Indiana State Department of Health Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention program, breast health education/screening, and transportation assistance. Specialized team members provide mental health/substance abuse services. In collaboration with the University of Southern Indiana, a registered nurse case manager coordinates primary care services for high risk inmates following release from jail. Health care services are provided at three fixed sites. ECHC's outreach teams provide services to 90 percent of Vanderburgh County homeless shelters. Volunteer physician specialists donate time and services to clinics.

ECHC links with Southwestern Indian Mental Health Center for substance abuse, detox/treatment, and outpatient mental health. For shelter services, ECHC has linkages with Salvation Army Booth Manor, United Caring Shelters, YWCA, Albion Fellows Bacon Center (domestic violence), Goodwill Family Shelter, ECHO Housing Corporation,
Evansville Christian Life Center, Evansville Rescue Mission, House of Bread and Peace, Life Choice, and Ozanam Family Shelter. ECHC also has linkages with the Vanderburgh County Health Department, Council on Aging, Division of Family and Children Services, Community Action Program, Township Trustee, University of Southern Indiana School of Dental Hygiene, two local hospitals, and a network of area dentists and physician specialists. ECHC works closely with the Evansville Coalition for the Homeless.

Estimated homeless population: 5,000 Patients served: 3,013

HealthNet Health, Inc.

3401 E. Raymond Street
Indianapolis, IN 46203

Homeless Initiative Program
1835 N. Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Phone: (317) 931-3055
Fax: (317) 931-3063
Email: sharon.stark@clarian.org
Web: www.indyhealthnet.org
Director: Booker Thomas, CEO
HCH Coordinator: Sharon Stark
Medical Director: Peter Kim, MD
UDS Number: 053200

Project Description

The Homeless Initiative Program (HIP) is a community program of HealthNet, INC., providing health care, street outreach, office triage, case management, employment, training and housing services to individuals and families who are homeless in Indianapolis, Marion County. 

The Homeless Initiative Program is a multi-disciplinary team consisting of a family practice physician, a family nurse practitioner, two medical assistants, three outreach workers, five case managers, two resource coordinators, five employment specialists, a housing coordinator and a housing specialist. Services are provided on the streets, at the HIP office, at HIP's housing program sites, and in shelter, mission, and transitional housing partner agencies. Outreach staff assist homeless individuals with meeting basic needs for emergency shelter, food, clothing, health and safety, and provide referrals to HIP case management. Case managers and resource coordinators assess the psychological and social needs of the individual, assist with the development of a care plan, and provide support, advocacy and referrals as the individual acts on the plan. Employment and training services are available at the HIP office and include vocational counseling, pre-employment work shop, and assisted job search and job placement. Additional services for veterans seeking employment are available through the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) at HIP. The mobile medical team provides acute and chronic care, free pregnancy testing, free vaccinations to children to protect them from serious illness, and referrals to specialists and hospitals, including referrals for dental care, foot care, and eye exams. Homeless, pregnant women are referred to HealthNet's Better Indy Babies (BIBs) Program for pre-natal support and education. HIP provides rent and utility assistance, resource coordination and employment services for 58 chronically homeless adults in two permanent supportive housing programs: the Ralph Dowe Legacy Housing Project and the Threshold Housing Project. HIP's transition-in-place permanent housing programs, initiated in 2007, provide rental assistance and supportive services for three months to two years for up to 50 households expe riencing homelessness. HIP also provides transitional housing for up to 15 veterans, including female veterans and their children, who are enrolled in HIP's HVRP.

Linkages

Patients who are homeless and in need of emergency, subspecialty, or hospital care are referred to Wishard Memorial Hospital or their pre-existing managed care provider. Linkages are in place with the Salvation Army Harbor Light and Pathway to Recovery for residential substance abuse treatment and with Midtown and Adult & Child Community Mental Health Centers for mental health evaluation and treatment. Veterans are linked with the VA Medical Center for both substance abuse and mental health treatment. The medical team partners with 12 shelters, missions, and transitional housing sites where they travel at least weekly to provide medical services to the homeless residents. Other HIP staff coordinate services for homeless clients through more than 30 different agencies.

Statistics

Estimated homeless population: 4,400 to 7,300 Patients served: 2600 to 3000

LIFE to LIFE
1402 South Michigan Street
South Bend, IN 46613
Contact: Chris Nowak
Phone: (574) 233-5433