Initiatives & Collaboration

Chronic Pain Management

In a direct response to clinical priorities expressed by the HCH Clinician’s Network, the Network Steering Committee decided to survey HCH clinicians across the country regarding chronic pain management practices, knowledge, attitudes and resources. A report of the 2010 survey results is now available and can be downloaded here: Pain Management Survey of Health Care for the Homeless Clinicians: Summary of Results.

Materials from the chronic pain management workshop at the 2010 National HCH Conference & Policy Symposium are also available. Click here to view the workshop presentation materials.

Clinical Outcome Measures

The Council received funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to conduct a feasibility study to identify supplemental clinical outcome measures specific to homeless individuals who seek care at HCH projects and Medical Respite Care facilities.

A task force was formed and made decisions regarding which clinical outcome measures would be included in the feasibility study and assisted in the construction of a survey that was distributed electronically to Medical Directors who serve in HCH projects and Coordinators at Medical Respite Care programs. Representatives from 11 projects also participated in focus groups for the study.

Results of the survey and focus groups are documented in a report entitled Clinical Outcomes Feasibility Study Report. The National HCH Council hopes that additional funding will be obtained in the near future to conduct a pilot study as a follow-up to this feasibility report.

Violence on the Streets

The Council’s National Consumer Advisory Board (NCAB) has been conducting Consumer Participation Outreach surveys for the past 4 years. Consumer Advisory Board members at local HCH projects across the country go out in the streets and survey individuals experiencing homelessness about various topics from health care utilization to perceived quality of services.

The Research Coordinating Committee (RCC) provided consultation to the NCAB Executive Committee in developing a rigorous research process to explore the prevalence and impact of violence experienced while homeless. This research project was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Nashville Metropolitan Department of Public Health with NCAB Chair Amy Grassette as Principal Investigator. Surveying began in July 2010.

Click here to view past Participation Outreach survey reports.

Traumatic Brain Injury

In February 2010, the HCH PBRN submitted a research proposal to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for a $100,000 grant to study the prevalence and impact of traumatic brain injuries in homeless patients. All HCH PBRN organizational members were invited to participate in this pilot study and 10 organizations submitted letters of support for the grant application. If funded, the Boston HCH program will serve as the lead agency with Dr. Carol Waldmann as Principal Investigator. Other researchers serving as consultants on the study include:

  • Dr. Stephen Hwang – Toronto, Canada
  • Dr. Lillian Gelberg – Los Angeles, CA
  • Dr. Pam Diamond – Houston, TX
  • Dr Barbara Wismer – San Francisco, CA

Thanks to everyone who came together to develop this grant application! We hope to hear from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality sometime in May.