We are therefore serving a community
with an over representation of young persons and high proportion of Spanish speaking immigrants. The proportion of persons with educational deficits is large as well as the proportion of those who use
narcotics and of those who tend to resort to physical violence in their social interactions.
Given the above, the persons who apply
for services from the program require careful needs assessment and planning to adequately address their needs. In addition to issues mentioned, use of contaminated intravenous needle injections, unprotected sex and
poor nutrition have associated risk of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, logenic abscesses, TB, and
sexually transmitted diseases. Furthermore, poor nutritional habits lead to a
high prevalence of obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
Although treatment of several of the
conditions mentioned can not be done in our clinic, adequate health screening and referral, health education and encouragement
to have patients learn about their health problems and the medications they are prescribed become and important responsibilities
for our staff.
Also important is the provide care to
a high proportion of patients who give history of physical and sexual abuse and currently exposed to spousal or child violence
and abuse.
Many of our patients have psychiatric comorbidities
that need to be treated. Social problems need to be addressed. Common problems include patient with disabilities in need of vocational rehabilitation, individuals involved
with the criminal justice system such as those on parole or probation, immigration status difficulties and pervasive poverty.
