Bay Pines VA Expands Service to Unhoused Veterans
The dawn of a new year often brings with it a desire to evolve, and Bay Pines VA Healthcare System is no exception to that sentiment. On Jan. 4, 2024, the Bay Pines VA’s Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) brought the organization’s Mobile Medical Unit to the community for the first time.
“We’re really starting to propel forward into the next age of meeting the individuals where they are,” said Bay Pines VA HPACT Social Worker Haydee Davis. “There’s a theory in social work called person-in-environment and our presence in the community brings that concept to fruition.”
The HPACT is a multi-disciplinary team dedicated to addressing the unique needs and distinct challenges unhoused Veterans face accessing and engaging in health care. The team consists of a medical doctor, a nurse practitioner and a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, to provide medical care. The remaining members are a medical support assistant to help establish eligibility and enrollment, and a social worker to provide counseling services.
“When Veterans present to the MMU, we have the capability to address certain medical needs such as the provision of wound care, vaccines, and mental health evaluations,” said Bay Pines VA Section Chief of Primary Care Dr. Bernard Khaw. “We know that the homeless Veteran population sometimes feels apprehensive toward the VA so coming to them helps rebuild trust.”
During the debut of the MMU, the five-person team brought the medical vehicle to Williams Park, which is located in St. Petersburg, Fla., because it is known to have a significant number of homeless people who populate the area. During their five-hour stay, members of the team took turns canvasing the area in search of Veterans who were ready to receive assistance.
“I love my team. Just like the work we do, it is innovative because we bring our individual strengths to the table and we challenge each other,” Davis shared. “I see my role as helping to empower both my team and my patients. I always want Veterans to feel prepared, so my primary objective is to provide them with the tools they need to become their own hero.”
The MMU will continue travelling to various locations throughout Pinellas County on a weekly basis, and set up at locations that are known to have a high number of people experiencing homelessness. As they continue to solidify their operations, Bay Pines VA staff ask for the support of community partners to ensure every homeless Veteran receives the care they deserve.
“If you meet Veterans who would be resistant to care, please send them our way,” Davis said. “If I can change the mindset of one person, I know that the ripple effect extends far beyond that.”
Veterans who are experiencing homelessness, or at risk of becoming homeless, can connect to care by calling the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838 where staff are standing by to provide confidential support 24/7.