Dignity Health, in partnership with Sutter, Kaiser and UC Davis Medical Center (UCDMC), has funded the Interim Care Program (ICP) since its inception in late 2005. The program was established by The Effort and Salvation Army to provide temporary respite and recovery for homeless patients who are healthy enough to be discharged from a hospital, but have no housing alternative, family or other means of support.
The program provides patients with a clean and safe environment for up to six weeks. Patients are housed in a special 16-bed unit at the Salvation Army's Center of Hope facility in downtown Sacramento. Patient referrals by the four hospital systems are taken on a first come-first served basis.
To date, 500 homeless patients have been referred to the program by all regional hospital systems. Average length of stay for patients in the program is 34 days. Referrals and bed utilization by hospital varies, but on average:
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23% of all patients referred to and participating in the program are from Dignity Health hospitals
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24% of all patients referred to and participating in the program are from Sutter
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49% of all patients referred to and participating in the program are from UCDMC
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4% of all patients referred to and participating in the program are from Kaiser
Patients must be stable on medications in order to be eligible to participate in the program. The program provides low level nursing assistance. A high degree of case management and social service support is provided to help patients enroll in health insurance, find a medical home, receive substance abuse treatment and mental health counseling, and be placed in permanent housing.
Outcomes indicate the ICP model works effectively to prevent readmissions to the hospital and improve health and quality of life for patients. To date, of the 500 participants:
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65% have successfully completed the program with no returns to an Emergency Department
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100% have been enrolled in health insurance programs
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80% have received substance abuse treatment and mental health counseling
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77% have been discharged into a permanent housing program
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