Log In

Knowledge Learning Objectives

Caring with Compassion comprises seven learning modules within two knowledge domains. Specific content targets each of the following learning objectives.

Public Healthcare Systems

Learning Module 1: Epidemiology of Homeless and Uninsured Populations

Learners will be able to describe:

  1. Definition of homelessness by federal standards.
  2. Numeric trends relating to homeless persons in the U.S. by region, age, race, ethnicity, work status, and family status.
  3. Prevalence of severe mental illness, substance abuse, victims of domestic violence, physically disabled, and combined comorbidities among homeless persons.
  4. Scope of unmet need for shelter housing for the homeless.
  5. 2012 federal poverty line for individuals and for a family of 4, average annual cost of employer-sponsored family healthcare coverage, and the resulting approximate ratio of healthcare cost to income for a low income family.
  6. Prevalence of un- and underinsurance in the United States, by age, race/ethnicity, and geography.

Learning Module 2: Public Health Insurance

  1. Multi-payer system of health insurance in the U.S.
  2. Core benefits and financing mechanisms of Medicare components A, B, and D.
  3. Purposes and structures of MediGap and Medicare Advantage plans.
  4. Eligibility criteria for Medicare, including age-based and disability-based criteria.
  5. Core benefits and eligibility criteria for Medicaid.
  6. Core benefits and eligibility criteria for CHIP.
  7. Expected Affordable Care Act effects upon public health insurance programs.
  8. Number, demographic characteristics (age, race/ethnicity), and healthcare costs of dually eligible Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries.

Leanring Module 3: Delivery Systems

  1. Major components of the U.S. healthcare delivery system.
  2. Eligibility criteria for VA health coverage.
  3. Size and range of services of the VA health system.
  4. VA health system services targeting the needs of homeless veterans.
  5. Financing mechanisms, structure, and number of persons served by FQHCs.
  6. Funding sources and population served by CMH.
  7. Funding mechanisms, governance structure, and range of services free clinics.

Caring for the Underserved

Learning Module 4: Homelessness & Disease

  1. Type and prevalence of conditions more common among homeless persons.
  2. Prevalence of tobacco use and substance abuse in the homeless population.
  3. Examples of biomedical complications of food scarcity and malnutrition.
  4. Common skin conditions of the homeless, and treatment options.
  5. Exposure-related conditions seen in cold conditions: frost bite, trench foot, and hypothermia.
  6. Challenges to chronic disease management imposed by homelessness, precarious housing, and food scarcity.

Leanring Module 5: Social Determinants of Health

  1. Definition of health disparities and healthcare disparities, in the context of two moral frameworks—social justice and compassion.
  2. Major classes of social determinants of health: race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, environment, behavioral factors, and health system characteristics.
  3. Examples of negative health consequences of uninsured status.

Learning Module 6: Biopsychosocial Health

  1. Major classes of psychosocial and behavioral determinants of health: mental health conditions, behavioral disorders, social support and cultural influences, and local physical environment.
  2. Type and prevalence of mental health disorders common among homeless persons.
  3. Increased medical morbidity and decreased life expectancy associated with chronic mental illness in the public mental health sector.
  4. Diagnostic criteria for major common addictive substance disorders.
  5. Major features of traditional addictive substance treatment programs.
  6. Major features of recovery-oriented and harm reduction substance abuse services.
  7. Components of the readiness-for-change and self-efficacy models of health behaviors, and their application among homeless patients.

Learning Module 7: Team Care

  1. Training, licensure, and scope of practice of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists.
  2. Training, licensure, and scope of practice of social workers and case managers.
  3. Scope of practice of addiction counselors and mental health providers.
  4. Outreach, team-based health care delivery models of demonstrated effectiveness among homeless persons.
  5. Specific team skills and communication approaches essential to high-functioning, interdisciplinary care teams.