ECHO Community Health Care (ECHC) provides services to persons who are homeless, uninsured, or underinsured at three sites. The Health Care for the Homeless team consists of full time employees, including a physician, a family nurse practitioner, five registered nurses, two social workers, a homeless health coordinator, and a social service coordinator.

Services

ECHC provides comprehensive primary care, minor acute care, case management, basic laboratory and x-ray services, wellness education, immunizations, prescription assistance, dental care, optometry, emergency services, school physicals, Hoosier Healthwise enrollment, Indiana State Department of Health Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention program, breast health education/screening, and transportation assistance. Specialized team members provide mental health/substance abuse services.

In collaboration with the University of Southern Indiana, a registered nurse case manager coordinates primary care services for high-risk inmates following release from jail. Health care services are provided at three fixed sites. ECHC’s outreach teams provide services to 90 percent of Vanderburgh County homeless shelters. Volunteer physician specialists donate time and services to clinics.

24 hour emergency on-call, Asthma, Basic Needs, Behavioral Health Care Services, Blood Pressure Monitoring, Case Management/Social Services, Child Development Services, Dental Care, Diabetes Testing/Care, Electronic Medical Records, Flu Vaccinations, Gynecology, Health/Nutritional Education, Hepatitis C screening/treatment, HIV/AIDS screening/education, Immunizations, Labs, Multidisciplinary Health Teams, Obstetrics, On-the-job training, Optometry Services, Outreach, Pediatrics, Physical Exams, Pneumococcal vaccine, Primary Health Care, Referrals for Specialty Care, Smoking Cessation, Specialty Care, Substance Abuse Treatment, TB screening/education, Treatment of Acute Illness, Treatment of Chronic Illness, Well Child Check-ups

Linkages

ECHC links with Southwestern Indian Mental Health Center for substance abuse, detox/treatment, and outpatient mental health. For shelter services, ECHC has linkages with Salvation Army Booth Manor, United Caring Shelters, YWCA, Albion Fellows Bacon Center (domestic violence), Goodwill Family Shelter, ECHO Housing Corporation, Evansville Christian Life Center, Evansville Rescue Mission, House of Bread and Peace, Life Choice, and Ozanam Family Shelter. ECHC also has linkages with the Vanderburgh County Health Department, Council on Aging, Division of Family and Children Services, Community Action Program, Township Trustee, University of Southern Indiana School of Dental Hygiene, two local hospitals, and a network of area dentists and physician specialists. ECHC works closely with the Evansville Coalition for the Homeless.

Statistics

Estimated homeless population: 5,000+

Patients served: 3,000+