REPORTED DUMPING OF HOMELESS PROBED.Byline: TROY ANDERSON Staff Writer Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County officials said Thursday that they are investigating a report that a homeless patient treated at County/USC Medical Center was dumped on Skid Row skid row a run-down area frequented by alcoholics. [Am. Culture: Misc.] See : Alcoholism Skid Row district of down-and-outs and bums. [Am. Usage: Brewer Dictionary, 1008] See : Failure . ``We are looking into the matter and trying to find out exactly what happened,'' county Department of Health Services Department of Health Services may refer to:
``Even this one that came to light today, I'm very surprised by that.'' The incident comes despite the health department's adoption in June of a new policy that requires public hospitals to prepare comprehensive discharge plans for all homeless patients. The policy requires hospital workers to identify homeless people when they are registered and refer them to the social work department, which coordinates a discharge plan and makes every effort to contact family or friends who can take care of the homeless person An individual who lacks housing, including one whose primary residence during the night is a supervised public or private facility that provides temporary living accommodations; an individual who is a resident in transitional housing; or an individual who has as a primary residence a after they are released from the hospital. In the event family or friends cannot be located, willing homeless patients can be taken to an appropriate housing or shelter facility. If the patient refuses -- or leaves against medical advice -- the case must be fully documented in the medical record and no transportation may be offered. On an average day, officials estimate, the county's four public hospitals care for about 75 to 100 homeless people. ``The homeless put a strain on the public health system,'' Wilson said, ``but it's our mission to serve the indigent indigent 1) n. a person so poor and needy that he/she cannot provide the necessities of life (food, clothing, decent shelter) for himself/herself. 2) n. one without sufficient income to afford a lawyer for defense in a criminal case. with compassionate medical care.'' troy.anderson@dailynews.com (213) 974-8985 |
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