Circle the City, a nonprofit organization in Phoenix, has launched a new program to provide health care to homeless individuals on the streets. The program includes an IV rehydration service to help protect homeless people from life-threatening heat illness as temperatures soar in the triple digits in the area. Last year, nearly half of the 645 heat-related deaths in Maricopa County were homeless individuals, prompting the need for such innovative services.
The program aims to address the vulnerability of homeless individuals to extreme weather conditions, particularly in a city like Phoenix where temperatures can reach as high as 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Homeless individuals face challenges in regulating their body temperatures due to factors such as mental illness, medication, and substance use. The Circle the City team, consisting of healthcare providers like nurse practitioners and physicians, actively searches for dehydrated patients in homeless encampments, providing vital medical care, including wound care, medication refills, and IV rehydration.
The initiative also focuses on long-term solutions for homeless individuals, such as finding transitional shelter or permanent housing. Circle the City collaborates with hospitals to ensure patients receive follow-up care post-hospitalization and partners with various organizations to provide respite care and medical services. The organization’s efforts have helped prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths among homeless individuals in the region.
As the impacts of extreme weather become more pronounced, health providers across the country are being challenged to better protect homeless populations. With partnerships with hospitals, outreach in homeless encampments, and innovative services like IV rehydration on the streets, Circle the City is leading the way in providing essential medical care to vulnerable individuals in Phoenix.
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