Homelessness, Health, and Humanity: Exploring the Role of Street Medicine (NA2540)
Author(s): Patsy Barnes, RN, BA
Pre-Approved for: ACM, CA BRN, CCAPP, CCLCP, CCM, CDMS, CE Broker Provider, CLCP, CMCPS, COHN/COHN-S, CRCC, CVRP, Delaware BON, FCB, MSCC, RNs
Credit Hours: 3
Course Format
This course is online. All course material is available online and is accessible immediately after purchase from your account homepage. Certificate of Completion is available immediately upon passing the exam.
Course Overview
Homelessness is a significant issue across the United States, affecting both urban and rural areas, and it remains a global challenge. The causes of homelessness, as well as potential solutions, are often subjects of intense debate. While government agencies and bureaucracies allocate substantial resources to address the problem, one group has emerged as a beacon of hope for individuals experiencing homelessness: street medicine.
Since its inception in the early 1990s, street medicine has united social workers, nurses, and physicians in a mission to provide medical care and social support to those who lack shelter and access to traditional healthcare systems. This course explores the concept of street medicine, its contributions, and the challenges faced by those involved in this vital field.
Course Objectives
- Understand the connection between homelessness and health outcomes.
- Analyze the financial implications of homelessness on the healthcare system.
- Evaluate the arguments for and against the Supreme Court ruling permitting the relocation of homeless camps.
- Define the practice of street medicine and identify its key practitioners.
- Examine the ethical dilemmas faced by street medicine providers and law enforcement in their interactions with individuals experiencing homelessness.
Course Outline
- The Relationship Between Homelessness and Health
- The Economic Impact of Homelessness on Healthcare Systems
- Debates Surrounding the Relocation of Homeless Camps
- The Scope of Street Medicine - Globally and Nationally
- Ethical Challenges Faced by Street Medicine Practitioners and Law Enforcement