Goal of New Homeless Health Clinic is to Reduce Non-Emergency 911 Responses

None by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) In an effort to reduce the number of non-emergency 911 calls from Salt Lake City area homeless shelters, the Fourth Street Clinic is launching an after-hours, off-site medical clinic.

Fourth Street Clinic spokesperson Jennifer Hyvonen says the off-site clinic, located at the St. Vincent de Paul winter overflow shelter on 200 South, will provide treatments like flu shots and blood pressure tests. It will also fill prescriptions for medications.

Each year, Salt Lake City hospitals spend thousands of dollars responding to 911 calls and emergency room visits from Utah's homeless population. The majority of these calls are for treatment of chronic illnesses better left to a primary care physician. The costs of those visits are passed on to those with health insurance.

The after hours clinic will be open Monday through Thursday from 6pm to 9pm. Hyvonen says they hope to reduce non-emergency 911 responses by 30%. Salt Lake City and Intermountain Health Care each provided $15,000 grants to fund the program.

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