Pa. health system 'street medicine' program decreases ED usage 80% for homeless patients

Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Health Network's emergency department usage and inpatient days for patients experiencing homelessness have decreased by more than 80 percent since the health system implemented its "street medicine" program.

Lehigh Valley Health Network launched the program, which allows providers to make street visits to patients experiencing homelessness, in 2017. Since then, readmissions are also down nearly 70 percent.

While completing street visits, providers can use Epic's smartphone and tablet EHR apps to access patient health records and document information such as health history, medications and care teams.

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