Utilization of behavioral health outpatient therapy and psychiatry services among homeless people recently hospitalized for a psychiatric condition.

A database (n = 1698) at a homeless health care center was used to assess factors associated with a psychiatric hospitalization and subsequent behavioral health outpatient therapy and psychiatry visit adherence. Blacks and those recently incarcerated were less likely to report a psychiatric hospitalization and those with a co-occurring disorder or disability were more likely to report a hospitalization. Of those hospitalized, blacks and those with bipolar disorder were less likely to be high adherers to behavioral health outpatient therapy and those incarcerated 4 to 6 months prior to intake were more likely not to attend behavioral health outpatient therapy.

Adherence to behavioral therapy and psychiatry visits in a safety-net setting in Virginia, USA.

Little is known about predictors of adherence to outpatient behavioural therapy and psychiatry visits in those who experience homelessness. Yet, consistent receipt of services in the community is critical to preventing use of acute care psychiatric services, which cause a significant cost burden to the mental health system. This retrospective study examined sociodemographic, housing instability and health-related factors associated with adherence to behavioural therapy and psychiatry appointments among 1711 clients served by an urban healthcare for the homeless centre in Virginia, USA.

Medication adherence challenges among patients experiencing homelessness in a behavioral health clinic.

Background: Behavioral health medication nonadherence is associated with poor health outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Little is known about reasons for nonadherence with behavioral health medications among homeless people.

Objectives: To identify reasons for medication nonadherence including the sociodemographic, health-related factors, and behavioral health conditions associated with medication nonadherence among behavioral health patients served by a Health Care for the Homeless center (HCH) in Virginia.

Development and Implementation of an Academic-Community Partnership to Enhance Care among Homeless Persons.

An academic-community partnership between a Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) clinic and a school of pharmacy was created in 2005 to provide medication education and identify medication related problems. The urban community based HCH clinic in the Richmond, VA area provides primary health care to the homeless, uninsured and underinsured. The center also offers eye care, dental care, mental health and psychiatric care, substance abuse services, case management, laundry and shower facilities, and mail services at no charge to those in need.

Integration of collaborative medication therapy management in a safety net patient-centered medical home.

Objective: To describe the integration of collaborative medication therapy management (CMTM) into a safety net patient-centered medical home (PCMH).

Setting: Federally qualified Health Care for the Homeless clinic in Richmond, VA, from October 2008 to June 2010.

Practice Description: A CMTM model was developed by pharmacists, physicians, nurse practitioners, and social workers and integrated with a PCMH.