Stop dumping

Dear Local Hospitals:

There haven't been any good stories in the news lately, but we know this practice still exists.

Many hospitals still practice dumping. Not hazardous waste, but people. Inconvenient people. People who are homeless.

So Little RiverTown Merciless Medical Center, cut it out. Stop discharging people you know are homeless.

Recently, one of your discharged folks came to the Hotel and is really a mess. Said patient should have been discharged to an agency program that can help him/her.

You did a great disservice. If my coworker has some phone numbers on that patient's discharge form, I'll be copying it and sending it along to OIG.

Because you should have known better. He/she has options.

Sincerely not,

RehabRN

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P.S. I found this info below when I did a Google search and I'm not even an LCSW.

Get your act together and make the calls you need before you discharge people to the community.

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
http://www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/NationalCallCenter.asp
Phone: 1-877-4AID VET (877-424-3838)
VA has founded a National Call Center for Homeless Veterans to ensure that Veterans or Veterans at-risk for homelessness have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. The hotline is intended to assist homelss Veterans and their families, VA Medical Centers, federal, state, and local partners, community agencies, service providers and others in the community.