Street Medicine Program
Our mission in action
The Adventist Health Ukiah Valley Street Medicine team lives our
hospital’s mission every day. We take preventative and urgent care medicine to our most vulnerable
community members; our community’s homeless population. Our remarkable
multi-disciplinary team treats patients for medical issues such as diabetes,
infections and acute wound care, as well as performs general health checks
and provides health education.
Ukiah Valley Street Medicine from Adventist Health on Vimeo.
Benefits
The benefits of the Adventist Health Ukiah Valley Street Medicine program
are not only to the individuals we serve, but to the greater community
as well. Without this program, many of our homeless community members
report that they would either visit the emergency room for non-urgent
problems, or not seek medical care at all. Using the ER as a primary care
option is not only costly for the hospital, but it also takes away from
the number of beds that are open for patients with actual emergencies.
If a patient does not seek medical attention, it can exacerbate treatable
medical problems and risks turning what could have been an easy treatment,
into a life-threatening condition.
Outcomes
This program has taken on a life of its own over the past couple of years. Our homeless community members have begun to place trust in our providers and share their lives. We have seen incredible success stories as patients find stable homes and restore their physical and mental health. Former patients have even turned into our advocates. Our team brings hope to what many perceive as a bleak situation. We are so proud of the Adventist Health Ukiah Valley Street Medicine program.
Classroom Without Walls
The Classroom Without Walls program offers a unique, compassionate and fulfilling learning experience for pre-health and medical students and family medicine residents. The site is currently under construction but will contain educational and operational information about the program. Please check back with us soon!