Segment 1: Taking Medicine to the Streets
It may seem strange to make a house call to someone who’s homeless, but that’s precisely what those who practice street medicine do. Last year, the Fourth Street Clinic (which offers health care to the homeless) and Volunteers of America started an outreach program to practice medicine outside the clinic, based on a model created by Dr. Jim Withers. Withers and Jennifer Hyvonen from the Fourth Street Clinic join us to talk about the benefits and the challenges of taking medicine to the streets.
Guests:
- Dr. Jim Withers, Street Medicine Institute
- Jennifer Hyvonen, Fourth Street Clinic
Segment 2: Children in Poverty
A new study shows an 80 percent increase in families with children living in low-income areas. We’ll talk about what the findings mean and what it will take to move these families out of poverty.
Guest:
- Terry Haven, Voices for Utah Children
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1 Comments
While I am very happy to see this news, I just want to remind people that this is not a new service offered by the Fourth Street Clinic.
In the 1990’s-2002 Dr Joan Sheetz (and I) regularly brought healthcare for children and families at The Road Home Winter Overflow shelter in Midvale. We had a tiny office where we saw hundreds of kids and parents for various illnesses over the 8 years I worked with Dr Sheetz. I did flu shot clinics at the main Road Home shelter, and the Winter Overflow shelter for years. We also provided care to women and children at the YWCA,, at the South Valley Sanctuary and at LifeStart Village. Dr Sheetz created the Open Door clinic for street teens. This was held away from the main Fourth Street Clinic because the teens didn’t feel comfortable there. We shlepped back and forth over many miles of roads in all kinds of conditions.During my years with Fourth Street it seemed we were on the road at least half of our time!
During the Olympics, the clinic service hours were changed. We hit the road to make sure people who had a hard time accessing Fourth Street due to the Olympics commotion were able to get care.
There has been very long partnership between Fourth Street Clinic and The Road Home, both amazing organizations. It was an honor to work with both the clients and the staff at both places.
I’d like to see the pioneers in health care for the homeless folks not be forgotten. Dr Sheetz was and is an amazing woman who shared her heart and knowledge and love with the Road Home and Fourth Street for many many years. She was preceded by many other volunteers MD’s, nurses and nurse practitioners who quietly and steadily cared for those who needed help. All people who shunned the limelight and steadily showed their love of homeless folks by their dedication to their jobs.
Congratulations on a new practice model Fourth Street. may the partnership with the Road Home remain integral to both organizations.