Dr. Jim O’Connell has been caring for homeless individuals since 1985, when he established the nation’s first medical respite program with 25 beds inside a Boston shelter.
“And as we’ve learned, certainly in Boston and around the country, one of the leading causes of death among homeless people is actually cancer and heart disease and diabetes - things that we should be going out and treating in a setting that’s much lower cost than the emergency room.”
Grand Rapids-based nonprofit Catherine’s Health Center hosted Dr. O’Connell whose focus is on the importance of caring for people where they live.
“I think what Grand Rapids is doing that I admire and is emulated in other cities but often hard to do, and it may be because you’ve got just the right people in the right size city, is it’s a collaborative effort.”
Catherine’s recently launched a mobile health van and opened a clinic inside Mel Trotter Ministries. Dr. O’Connell praises the collaboration.
“It’s reaching out to people on the streets and in the shelters, but making sure it’s part of a continuum of care that involves so many collaborators.”
According to the National Library of Medicine, around 60% of individuals entering the shelter system report having at least one medical complaint.
For a weekly dose of news right to your inbox, sign up for the WGVU newsletter.
