Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Healthcare for People Experiencing Homelessness in Nashville

Abstract

Abstract

This pilot study seeks to understand the needs and barriers to accessing care for people experiencing homelessness (PEH) in Nashville. Our goal is to provide information for the successful implementation of a Street Medicine program. Data was collected via focus groups of PEH and qualitatively analyzed to explore experiences with housing, emergency department visits, food insecurity, a variety of facets of health, and viewpoints on advertising and forming a Street Medicine initiative. The analysis employed a two-phase approach to identify key needs, including food access, housing, routine checkups and preventative care, mental health services, and oral health, as well as barriers to accessing care, such as wait times, transportation barriers, and insurance. The study reveals diverse circumstances, PEH experience, and the stigma surrounding this vulnerable community. With the information collected from the focus groups, Vanderbilt Homeless Health can utilize this information for future decisions, providing insight into why a Vanderbilt street medicine initiative is needed in Nashville. Limitations of this study are present in focus groups coming from only one organization serving PEH in Nashville; however, this study is able to give insight into the local needs, barriers, and facilitators for healthcare in Nashville. Future research on this topic has the potential to support data-driven interventions for Street Medicine programs and effectively address the needs of PEH.