Improving post-hospital care for people who are homeless: Community-based participatory research to community-based action

Abstract

This article discusses how community-based participatory research (CBPR) on hospital care transitions in New Haven, Connecticut led to the development of a new medical respite program to better serve patients who are homeless. Key insights include: • Homelessness is an important driver of hospital utilization and must be addressed in efforts to decrease hospital readmissions. • Hospitals and community organizations often serve a shared patient/client base and can work together to develop innovative programs that are beneficial to all parties. • Community-based participatory research methods are particularly conducive to producing research that is translatable to policy and new programs. • Targeted dissemination of research results played a pivotal role in securing resources and funding for the new program.

Keywords: Community-based participatory research; Homelessness; Hospital readmissions.