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This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2005.067850v1 96/7/1278    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (6) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Buchanan, D. Articles by Garcia, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Buchanan, D. Articles by Garcia, P. Related Collections Health Care Facilities/Services Other Health Service Delivery Homelessness Socioeconomic Factors Mortality Urban Health

David Buchanan, MD, Bruce Doblin, MD, MPH, Theophilus Sai, MD and Pablo Garcia, MD

David Buchanan and Theophilus Sai are with the Department of Medicine at Stroger Hospital of Cook County (formerly Cook County Hospital) and Bruce Doblin is with the Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. Pablo Garcia is with the Department of Anesthesia, St. Vincent’s Hospital, New York, New York.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to David Buchanan, Head, Section of Social Medicine, Division of General Medicine, 1900 West Polk Street, Suite 954, Chicago, Illinois 60612 (e-mail: david_buchanan{at}rush.edu).

Objectives. Homeless individuals experience high rates of physical and mental illness, increased mortality, and frequent hospitalizations. Respite care provides homeless individuals with housing and services allowing more complete recovery from illnesses and stabilization of chronic conditions.

Methods. We investigated respite care’s impact on 225 hospitalized homeless adults consecutively referred from an urban public hospital during a 26-month period. The cohort was separated into 2 groups: (1) patients referred and accepted into the respite center and (2) patients referred but denied admission because beds were unavailable. All patients met the center’s predefined eligibility criteria. Main outcome measures were inpatient days, emergency department visits, and outpatient clinic visits.

Results. The 2 groups had similar demographic characteristics, admitting diagnoses, and patterns of medical care use at baseline. During 12 months of follow-up, the respite care group required fewer hospital days than the usual care group (3.7 vs 8.3 days; P=.002), with no differences in emergency department or outpatient clinic visits. Individuals with HIV/AIDS experienced the greatest reduction in hospital days.

Conclusions. Respite care after hospital discharge reduces homeless patients’ future hospitalizations.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Buchanan, R. Kee, L. S. Sadowski, and D. Garcia The Health Impact of Supportive Housing for HIV-Positive Homeless Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial Am J Public Health, November 1, 2009; 99(S3): S675 - S680. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. S. Sadowski, R. A. Kee, T. J. VanderWeele, and D. Buchanan Effect of a Housing and Case Management Program on Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations Among Chronically Ill Homeless Adults: A Randomized Trial JAMA, May 6, 2009; 301(17): 1771 - 1778. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. G. Kertesz and S. J. Weiner Housing the Chronically Homeless: High Hopes, Complex Realities JAMA, May 6, 2009; 301(17): 1822 - 1824. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. B. Kushel and C. Miaskowski End-of-Life Care for Homeless Patients: "She Says She Is There to Help Me in Any Situation" JAMA, December 27, 2006; 296(24): 2959 - 2966. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]