Earlier this month, Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS), The University of New Mexico Health Mobile Medicine Team, and the UNM Hospital Emergency Department collaborated to assist an unhoused, legally blind man in Albuquerque.
The individual has been known to community providers for the past decade. Recently, he reached a point where he could no longer manage his daily needs at a shelter. ACS staff encountered him at one of its Connect to Care events held at The Rock at Noonday.
“I noticed him and was deeply concerned about his living situation and appearance,” said ACS Homeless Liaison Jodie Jepson. “He let me know that he had not eaten in days and that his debit card was stolen.”
ACS secured a motel room for him for the evening. The following day, ACS and the UNM Mobile Medicine team conducted a follow-up visit, determining that the man could no longer care for himself.
Lindsay Fox, Physician Assistant and Medical Director of the UNM Mobile Medicine Team, briefed medical and social work teams at the UNM Hospital Emergency Department on his status. A plan was established to evaluate him further. An ED Social Work Case Manager arranged for his transition to a long-term care facility where his needs would be met.
Two members of ACS’s Street Outreach Team transported the man to UNM Hospital, ensuring he was triaged properly and that all medical and social work staff were aware of the plan set for him. The ACS Outreach Navigator team plans to meet with him daily during this transition period.
Partnerships between organizations like ACS and the UNM Health System have led to better outcomes for individuals needing support to access resources. By working together, they can maximize impact and help individuals overcome obstacles to receive appropriate assistance.
###
