Wellesley, Mass…A recent survey by Babson College Statistics Professor Norean R.  Sharpe found that Boston’s homeless women would have gone untreated without the presence of Women of Means (WOM).

WOM is a Wellesley-based non-profit founded by Roseanna Means that delivers safe and barrier-free health care to women, who are homeless or marginally housed in the City of Boston.  This volunteer-based organization was established in 1999 to improve the lives of homeless women by providing both quality health care and advocacy.  Volunteer physicians from WOM go directly into women’s shelters and drop-in centers (currently nine different shelters) to give pro bono care and distribute free, over-the-counter medical supplies to women who need help.

Sharpe’s survey looked at access, communication, and outcome of free healthcare service provided by WOM to homeless and poor women at Rosie’s Place and Women’s Lunch Place, the two busiest Boston women centers for the healthcare volunteers. The survey was administered in the fall of 2003 to a sample of shelter patients, the volunteer physicians who work with WOM, and the entire full-time shelter staff.

The shelter patients were surveyed through an oral interview.  The 50 women who completed the interview had a median age of 51 and represented a diverse group of women: 38% African Americans, 28% Caucasian, 10% Hispanic, and 8% Haitian.  (A percentage reported that they were a combination of races.)  The majority of women had 12 years of schooling or less (62%).

In-Shelter Healthcare is Safer

One of the most important findings of this recent survey is that the homeless women themselves perceive this location and availability of health care essential to their well-being.  Approximately two-thirds of the homeless women reported they would have gone untreated without the presence of the WOM physicians and nurses.  The majority of the women reported using the free medical services at least 5 times over the last six months and reported that the atmosphere of a “secure and safe” environment was part of the reason.  During 2002, WOM recorded approximately 2,400 clinical encounters (visits by patients).  According to one patient, “I really appreciate the constant attention and care to my health and the health of my babies…I appreciate the respect and the courtesy for health and confidentiality….the kindness and gentle care of staff and medical intervention, if need be.” 

An astounding 96% of the women patients reported that they intended to use the WOM medical services again and 94% intended to recommend the shelter medical services to others – a hopeful indication that this free medical care may reach even more women who live on the streets.  An added benefit is that the in-shelter healthcare provides a motivating factor for women to pay more attention to their health.

Because of this stimulus to care about their health and to spread the news of the free medical care to other women who live on the streets, the potential to impact the general care of homeless and poor women is enormous.  With the increase of quality and frequency of health care for these women, the hope is that fewer of these women are visiting the local emergency rooms – typically their only health care option.  If these indigent women are able to find quality, free care within the safe haven of the shelter structure, then the financial burden on the care accessed through major medical centers, such as Boston Medical Center, is reduced.

In-Shelter Care Reduces Emergency Room Costs

With recent estimates placing approximately 6000 people living on the streets of Boston, and one-third of those being women, the financial impact is clear.  Medical costs are soaring, with the average emergency room visit approaching $1,000.  If even one-third of the patient visits handled by the volunteer WOM physicians at the shelters had been handled at a nearby major medical center, estimates of the cost are $800,000.  And this is considered a conservative estimate by many.

The survey found that all the volunteer physicians would recommend the WOM program to other physicians and agreed that their homeless patients would have gone untreated without the medical services provided by WOM at the shelters.  In addition to learning about the medical treatment of indigent clients, the program gave them the opportunity to advocate for the disadvantaged, practice social justice, and be a role model for their colleagues.  According to one physician, “The impact of homelessness on children is significant.  I feel I treat many children who would otherwise not have been treated until it was an emergency (especially for asthma).”

Click here for a copy of the survey.