First Day: Post 5

Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital (PIH) has provided health care for residents of Whittier First Day since nurse-practitioner, Judith Stockman, started it in 2004. When she began providing the services she worked in a small room until the California Endowment gave First Day a start-up grant.

The clinic is not only there for the residents, it is open to all of homeless living in the streets. By presenting the services to people that struggle to receive even the most basic health care, First Day helps to reduce the health care costs that are caused by those who would go to the emergency room since they would not have anywhere else to go. It also helps to keep people from going untreated and becoming a chronic illness that could possibly spread throughout the community.

In 2009, a report done by PIH indicated that 96% of the patients that sought treatment at the clinic had improved their health status. The clinic to this date is just as successful in providing routine care, preventive care, and effective chronic disease management that help to improve the health of among residents and other clients.

The hospital helps support First Day in multiple ways. It has a “Fast Track” to First Day is a project that ensures that patients at PIH can be discharged and establish residency once they are in good health. A $27,000 grant from PIH has enabled First Day to provide families a tri-plex in which they may stay for two years while they work to live a self-sufficient life away from the streets. A PIH Dietetic Intern talks to residents about the importance of eating nutritional meals and how to eat healthy while on a budget. PIH provides clothing vouchers to the residents so that they may have access to clothing that is appropriate for a job interview.

The collaboration of PIH and First Day has been proven to be successful and beneficial to all of those in the community. The two do not only help the homeless with their help, but also provide them with the strength to rebuild their lives.