One of my frequent flyers just showed up for his 11th visit in 2 months...

[Aristus]

I'm going to engrave his name on a brass plaque and mount it over the door to the exam room...

[antiquie]

1. I didn't realize it is a homeless clinic.

Last edited Wed Aug 27, 2014, 11:42 AM - Edit history (1)

I've been dealing with people a lot older than me.

edit:

[Aristus]

2. This is the homeless clinic. Visits are covered under a grant. No co-pays.

He just visited yesterday. I don't know what I can do for him today that I didn't do yesterday...

[In_The_Wind]

3. Does he have a medical problem or is he just lonely?

[Aristus]

4. I referred him yesterday to ortho for follow-up on his dislocated shoulder.

And he's severely depressed. I refilled his depression medication yesterday, and advised him to follow up with our mental health provider on Thursday. I'm happy to visit with him to help stabilize his depression; I've done it before. But he never seems improved by the end of the visit. I feel like I'm spinning my wheels...

[In_The_Wind]

5. You've done all you can. The mental health referral was a good idea.

Depression is difficult to manage alone. Even the strongest person may need help.

We can only make suggestions but the suffering individual is the one who must decide enough is enough already. Making a change takes effort.

[HipChick]

7. Great advice

I need to manage mine...been blowing it off for nearly 14yrs now..

[In_The_Wind]

10. It seriously gets the best of me some times.

Recently I've been getting lost in cable tv to avoid thinking too much. Reading threads about the plight of older baby bloomers doesn't help.

[irisblue]

11. time to change depression meds?

You know how hard it can be to get one that works

[Autumn]

6. Very sad.

[blogslut]

8. They're opening up a place in my nearby town...

where homeless people can hang out during the day. They're going to provide busy work like crafts and books and gentle nudges in positive directions like shelters and training and medical/mental health services. But mostly, they're going to provide welcome and dignity.

I realize it doesn't help your client but I'm just very happy about this place.

[Aristus]

9. Well, now I'm happy, too.

More communities need places like that.

Of all the things the homeless need, few tangible articles can trump the important intangible concept of recognition of their human dignity and self-worth.

Certainly the best feedback we get as a medical clinic is when my patients tell the survey-taker: "They treat me like a human being."