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How do we impact people with homeBASE?
In our prior DOC Dispatch e-mails, you have learned how HomeBASE came to be, how frequent ED visits can be detrimental to patients and the healthcare system, and what the HomeBASE team does on a week-to-week basis. You saw data how with the first 25 patients, HomeBASE saved over $835,000 just from the decrease in ED visits and inpatient hospital days.
But what does this all mean to the patient in HomeBASE?
- In short, it is different for every person in HomeBASE.
- First and foremost, we get to know them and try to figure out what is going on in their lives that leads them to the ED. For some, they use the ED for temporary housing. They may come at night with a minor complaint in order to have a safe place to sleep and get some food. For those patients, we have had remarkable success by getting them housing – with special thanks to Julia’s and Marigny’s work. There are many downstream positive health consequences. For one patient, getting into safe housing also led to getting her A1c from >14% to less than 9%.
- For others, it may be getting them into a Pain Clinic or Psychiatry to help with chronic pain or mental health diagnoses that drive repeat visits. While some of the interventions, like setting up transportation, may seem simple, they are quite difficult, especially for someone without social support and low health literacy. For example, setting up a paratransit ride can take multiple phone calls.
- Many HomeBASE patients are relatives or friends of someone else in the program. We have found that sometimes, by helping one person, we can help several. And for some patients, just building a relationship with them and providing reassurance goes a long way.
Have someone who you think may benefit from HomeBASE? Please feel free to e-mail, staff message in Maestro, or talk to Marigny or Dr. Brown.
Thanks!
Greg Brown, MD
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Department of Medicine
Duke University
Pager # 919.970.2532
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