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Male Client 1: It was accident. I picked up the wrong thing drunk
and smoked and then I kept on smoking.
I liked it and ever since that day my life had went down hill and he never let
gave up on me and because he didn't give up on me I didn't give up on myself.
Dr. Walter Coppenrath: The more I started working with homeless the more I realized
that they were very similar to a lot of international populations where there are
medical technologies and opportunities for people but they may not be able to get them.
Dr. Susan Partovi: Well I've always been interested in Poverty medicine. I actually
was a born again Christian when I was a teenager.
I started going like on they do weekend trips and I ran into a physician assistant
that went every weekend.
That's where I learned Spanish and that's where I pretty much confirmed my decision
to be working with the poorest of the poor. Michael Decker: I'm from the Midwest from
Missouri and out here completing an
elective in underserved medicine.
Dr. Susan Partovi: As you may know, Los Angeles has the largest number of homeless
people in all of the United States.
Skid Row is actually the highest concentration of homeless people in all of
the United States as well. Michael Decker: Oh okay.
Dr. Susan Partovi: If you give a homeless person primary care doctor, you give or
you send them to rehab, you give them medications, you send them to psych
appointments, most likely it's not gonna stick because they're still homeless so
studies have shown that if you house them first then the resources slowly start to work.
Dr. Walter Coppenrath: We're currently standing in Hollywood and the population
we see here is primarily street-based homeless with a large percentage of
individuals that have a significant substance abuse problem.
The main substances we see are methamphetamines and alcohol.
We're really kind of the *** capital currently in terms of homeless use.
It's a chronic disease that has relapses,
successes, failures, backs and forth
and unless you're with that person through every step of that, you're more likely can
push them into a more of a chronic relapse.
Dr. Susan Partovi: We also have a large number of mentally ill as well as
physically disabled.
Dr. Walter Coppenrath: Our first goal is to make sure that somebody no matter
whether they're using, no matter whether or not they're hurt or tired, feels
comfortable coming out and letting us know.
If there is something acute an abscess,
they know that they can get help that isn't judging them here.
The next step is trying to figure out when and how and if somebody is ready to change.
Michael Decker: Definitely been eye opening and an interesting experience you know just
seeing, you know, all these people in such a concentrated space and how they get the
health care and hopefully the resources that they need. There's a,
you know, sign on the front that says providing clean needles does not increase
drug use.
Angelica: In my experience in this field I've learned that it is a disease
and unfortunately, people are going to do whatever they're gonna do to get what they need.
With every syringe that that could've been someone at risk for *** or hepatitis
C and the fact that we're giving out clean syringes is reducing that risk.
That's the whole reason why we're here. Michael Decker: It makes sense to,
you know, be able to provide supplies, safe water, safe sterile needles, you know,
to these individuals. In Kansas, I don't think that a center
like this would fly. Dr. Susan Partovi: It's about the
experience and kind of showing them what it's like to basically leave judgment at
the front door and it's actually very freeing. Most students and residents love going to
the needle exchange. It's a very freeing feeling from
a doctor's point of view to not have to
scold someone for being a drug addict.
Dr. Walter Coppenrath: There are certainly a lot of my colleagues that
don't understand how I find the time to volunteer as much as I do but the fact
is I find this to be extremely rejuvenating.
I found doing what I love to do to actually be the equivalent of four hours
of sleep. Dr. Susan Partovi: Hey Ken.
It's good to see you.
Ken: Hey. How's it going? Dr. Susan Partovi: Ken's in his late 50's
so he developed an infection in the bone of his spine about five to six years ago
from injection drug use. You have bacteria in your skin.
You put a needle in you basically push bacteria into your blood system.
He is to use in his legs and today he developed a lot of wounds in his legs.
Ken: They provided a needle exchange where I could come and turn in my old needles
for brand new ones and probably saved me from AIDS I believe that.
Male Client 1: I was on the streets 20 years before I even met him.
If he comes to my mother's house, my mother would accept him just like he is.
It ain't no black or white and the thing I liked about him that he never let gave
up on me.
That's the only thing - that's the thing I like about him and because he didn't
give up on me I didn't give up on myself.
Dr. Walter Coppenrath: We try and understand where the person is, where they
wanna be and if they may not be clear on that, we try to use motivational
interviewing techniques to kind of explore the ambivalence in between where they are
and where some place else might be.
Natasha LaBelle: Have you been walking more as well?
Male Client 2: Yes. Natasha LaBelle: I know the last time I
saw you you had some ulcers on your feet, from your diabetes.
Male Client 2: They're gone. Natasha LaBelle: Have you...?
They're gone? Male Client 2: They're gone, they're gone.
Natasha LaBelle: Good.
Dr. Walter Coppenrath: I do wanna debrief on the situation that we had
tonight, just so every - if anybody kind of had any questions about that,
that's kind of why we debrief.
We have an amazing group of volunteers
and we try and make them kind of feel a little uncomfortable by dancing or telling a joke
or doing anything just so that they feel initiated into a group.
Overlapping voices.
Michael Decker: That's been [inaudible]. Thank you.
Dr. Susan Partovi: If you ask people like why do you do what you do, it's all
because I get so much reward from it, you know, if I didn't like it I won't do it,
you know, so for me it's extremely rewarding.
Michael Decker: Seeing everybody here and seeing all the help that poured in, I was
really impressed and you know back home we don't actually have anything like this
and I think that it'll probably benefit, you know, a lot of communities that have
something like mobile clinic or something that can help this unique population.
Dr. Walter Coppenrath: I think it's true we all do have defining experiences but I
will tell you that the benefit of the work that I do is that I got to have them every week.
I really love my job.
I get to see people at their hardest moments and later at their best.
There is nothing quite like having somebody who used to be homeless, drive up
and see you and tell you how great things are going.
We can't define ourselves by those best moments because we can't define ourselves
by those worst moments but the fact is even in the worst moments that I see out
here, people are willing and able to give me their trust and know that I'm in
respect where they're at.