Date of Graduation

Fall 12-18-2015

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Department/Program

Nursing

First Advisor

Dr. Jo Loomis

Second Advisor

Dr. Alexa Colgrove Curtis

Third Advisor

Dr. Juli Maxworthy

Abstract

A small percentage of the U.S. population uses the greatest portion of the healthcare services. Homeless people are often such a group of “super-utilizers” of the healthcare system. Due to multiple medical and psychosocial conditions, people experiencing homelessness face numerous barriers to accessing healthcare, thus leading increased utilization of hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) services. Many of these events are preventable through improved primary care interventions. The literature on Respite/Recuperative Care, Transitional Care, and Mobile Health interventions have shown effectiveness in providing safe and quality care to homeless individuals during the critical transitional period post hospital discharge while also reducing the readmission rates to hospitals and EDs. The goal of this DNP project was to establish a Mobile Health Services program and function as a part of a larger Recuperative Care pilot program for Marin County's homeless population. The partnership between the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions (USF-SONHP) and local organizations in Marin endeavored to improve the quality of care for the homeless population and reduce rehospitalizations and ED visits. This goal was accomplished through the successful implementation of the pilot project. Outcome evaluation demonstrated that the project team was able to prevent rehospitalization in all eight patients that enrolled in the program. These results also showed a potential for a significant positive financial impact on the overall healthcare system by reducing utilization rates of EDs and hospitals and costs associated with it

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