Street Medicine

Dr. Grant Colfax with the Street Medicine Team

Providing healthcare on the street

Our program provides street-based, low-barrier outreach, engagement and care for unsheltered people experiencing homelessness. We aim is to reduce the incidence of harmful events such as fatal overdose and infectious diseases.

“Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax with the Street Medicine Team” by Linda Acosta

What we do

“A member of the Street Medicine team connects with a patient by first offering a haircut,” by Jessica Naugle

Engage

We engage the most vulnerable people without housing
We bring medical services into the community
We hold offsite clinics at partner locations, including harm reduction sites, , neighborhood pop-up health fairs, and drop-in centers
We enable people to access healthcare at places they already feel safe

We partner with the Maria X Martinez Health Resource Center, which utilizes a no appointment/open access model.
We develop relationships with our patients to earn their trust
We address trauma people have experienced in the medical system

We offer nonjudgmental and patient-centered care by listening to the priorities of the people we serve

“A Street Medicine nurse provides wound care to a patient on the street,” by Jessica Naugle

Care

Urgent care for acute issues like wounds or injuries, and transitional primary care for health care maintenance or chronic health conditions, including linkage to specialty services such as cardiology
Testing and treatment for infections such as STIs, HIV, Hepatitis C, and COVID
Prevention of disease through vaccination or HIV prevention medication
Psychiatric assessment and support for people with severe mental illness or other mental health issues
Overdose follow-up and linkage to harm reduction services, substance use treatment services, and Medication for Addiction Treatment including low-threshold buprenorphine
Low threshold palliative, end of life care for patients with life threatening conditions who are unable or need support to access traditional palliative/ hospice care

Street Medicine Nurse visits a patient who recently moved into supportive housing

“A Street Medicine Nurse Practitioner visits a patient who moved into supportive housing,” by Jessica Naugle

Linkage

While working with Street Medicine, patients may be linked to substance use treatment, mental health services, case management, or other community services to help them reach their goals.
People who need additional support to thrive in community may be linked to programs such as Intensive Case Management services or In Home Support Services.
Once patients reach a certain level of stability, we support them in graduating from our services to traditional primary care.

Care

In this video

Dr. Barry Zevin leads the Street Medicine team and has treated patients experiencing homelessness for more than 25 years. He talks about the work of his team.