Municipality of San Juan, San Juan Health Care for the Homeless Program

The San Juan Health Care for the Homeless Program (SJHCHP) is an adjunct program of the Special Programs Division of the San Juan Health Department of the Municiaplity of San Juan. Is the only program of continuum of care that offers exclusive preventive and primary health care services to the homeless population of the Municipality of San Juan, in 8 communities and 12 linkages within a population of 434,374 inhabitants as per Census Tract Year 2000.

San Juan urban center serves as the backdrop and living space for an estimated homeless population of 2,287, 27.2% of the total estimated in Puerto Rico(8,419). Its communities are designated Medically Underserved Area (MUA #03907) and a Medically Underserved Population (MUP), since November 1, 1978 and Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA #172999721F) since December 1, 1983.

SJHCHP provides primary health care services from Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the main clinic at Dr. Gualberto Rabell Health Center, in response to the health care needs of the homeless population. The comprehensive primary care services are provided by a clinical staff composed of general practitioners, registered nurses, case manager & social worker. Ancillary services include: pharmacy, laboratory and radiology. Its health care services are delivered to city’s homeless in situ, such as: Sexual Transmitted Disease (STD) treatment, Hepatitis B vaccination, substance abuse/alcohol counseling and referral, health maintenance, TB, cancer and dental screening, wound care, blood/urine specimen collection, health education, psychosocial needs assessment, case management & enabling services, networking, advocacy, tracking and community outreach. Referrals are provided for drug/alcohol programs, additional diagnostic work-ups, and other specialized services within the Main Site Center, the SJHD, and other health agencies.

Continuity of care is achieved by assuring the consistency of the provider in charge of the participant’s care: assigning specific staff to deliver the services on a regular schedule basis; working closely with the facility (site) staff to deliver the services and developing systems that respond to the facility’s functions and utilization by the participants.

Services

Through the SJHCH Program comprehensive and preventive primary health care, several services are provided to the city’s homeless, such as health maintenance, TB, cancer and dental screening, onsite STD treatment, immunizations, wound care, blood/urine specimen collection, health education, psychosocial needs assessment, substance abuse/alcohol counseling, case management/enabling services, networking, advocacy, tracking and community outreach.

Referrals are provided for drug/alcohol programs, additional diagnostic work-ups and other specialized services within the Main Site Center, the San Juan Health Department and other health agencies. Continuity of care is achieved by assuring the consistency of the provider in charge of the participant’s care: assigning specific staff to deliver the services on regular schedule basis; working closely with the facility (site) staff to deliver the services and developing systems that respond to the facility’s functions an d utilization by the participants.

The Program has expanded its health care services hours from 5 to 8pm in two (2) of the sites and with the recent acquisition of a mobile unit we are accessing areas where homeless persons congregates. Asthma, Basic Needs, Blood Pressure Monitoring, Cancer Screening, Case Management/Social Services, Diabetes Testing/Care, Domestic Violence Shelter/Services, Flu Vaccinations, Hepatitis C screening/treatment, HIV/AIDS screening/education, Immunizations, Labs, Medical Respite Care, Medications/Prescription, Mental Health Counseling, Mobile Van/Transportation, Multidisciplinary Health Teams, Outreach, Pharmacy, Physical Exams, Pneumococcal vaccine, Primary Health Care, Referrals for Specialty Care, Substance Abuse Treatment, TB screening/education, X-ray

Linkages

The SJHCH Program provides services to 8 communities and 12 linkages: Old San Juan, Santurce, Rà o Piedras, Barrio Obrero, Puerto Nuevo, San José, Sabana Llana and the Llorens Torres Public Housing Project within a population of 434,374 inhabitants as per Census Tract Year 2000.

Statistics

Estimated homeless population: 2,287

Patients served: 1,170

Subcontractors

Caribbean Medical Testing Center Reference Laboratory

PO Box 192071 San Juan, PR 00919-2071

Contact: Victor Morales 

Phone: (787) 884-2365 

Fax: (787) 884-2361