Royal Oak hospital program recognized for helping patients experiencing homelessness
Thanks to our partners at the Michigan Health & Hospital Association for sharing their photo and story.
Last week, the Michigan Health & Hospital Association recognized a Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital program for helping improve the health of the community.
The association named Street Medicine Oakland as a 2024 Ludwig Community Benefit Award winner. The program provides direct, free medical care to the estimated 1,200 people in the county experiencing homelessness.
Street Medicine Oakland is comprised of a team of volunteer medical students, medical residents and attending physicians who go outside the traditional walls of a hospital weekly to meet patients where they are, including on the street or in a shelter. It is a collaboration between the Royal Oak hospital and Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine.
The clinicians focus on building trust with these vulnerable populations and provide essential care for acute and chronic conditions that may have otherwise gone untreated, intervening before a patient requires a costly emergency department or hospital visit. The team also partners with other community organizations and resources to address social determinants of health so patients continue to have access to medical care, health insurance, housing, food and transportation.
“Having a program that reduces barriers to care for vulnerable patient populations is integral to providing equitable health care to members of our community,” said Brian Felice, M.D., medical director of Street Medicine Oakland. “We are thankful that Corewell Health and OUWB prioritize these initiatives.”
Ludwig Community Benefit Awards are presented to MHA member organizations integrally involved in collaborative programs to improve the health and well-being of area residents. Street Medicine Oakland will receive $5,000 from the MHA Health Foundation to assist in its health improvement efforts.
For more information on Street Medicine Oakland, you can contact Dr. Felice. Read the full MHA article here.