Imagine you are released from the hospital with no where to go, clothing that has been ruined and in need of follow up care with no way to make that happen. That is an issue facing many Americans every year with an estimated homeless population of over 500,000 people. Lasting Impressions can help you Discharge with Dignity.
In 2018, the state of California passed a law with hospital discharge instructions for homeless patients. Issues such as up to date immunizations, local resources for shelter, meals and prescriptions are all addressed to ensure the person is leaving the hospital and discharged with the proper tools to get through their medical needs.
So what does this mean for the hospital? With new rules and regulations in place, this often will put current staff under pressure as to how to adhere to the guidelines appropriately while taking care of their day to day job.
The bill states:
(3) If the homeless patient’s clothing is inadequate, the hospital shall offer the homeless patient weather-appropriate clothing.
Discharge with Dignity: The Issue
One major issue we have come to find out from our customers is that the hospitals normal supply chain does not have the resources to properly source the weather appropriate apparel that was mandated by state “Discharge with Dignity” law to supply to each patient upon discharge. We have talked to hospitals who have employees running around to local stores or trying to source these items from online retailers who do not carry the quantities needed to keep on hand for these situations. Even more of an issue of where to purchase these items, through these resources for purchasing, lead time to receive orders can go from one to two months. Not an amount of time that hospitals have to wait to get the appropriate clothing in that is needed.
Discharge with Dignity: The Solution
Using our resources and distributions centers across the United States, we are able to ensure delivery of the “Discharge with Dignity” items requested within 3 business days to the hospital. Not only does that speed up the process of waiting on your normal distribution channels, it also takes the running around to local stores or shopping online to fill bulk requests from different departments. Now “that closet” that most hospitals have, can be stocked in full and for when you have patients that meet those needs.
So what qualifies as “weather appropriate clothing”? We have put together a few different items that you can either kit together or purchase separately to discharge patients with when needed.
Let our team take away the frustrations of getting these essential items to have on hand. We promise, quick delivery and ease of ordering!
