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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

  1. Define homelessness by federal standards.
  2. Identify numeric trends relating to homeless persons in the U.S. by region, age, race, ethnicity, work status, and family status.
  3. Understand prevalence of severe mental illness, substance abuse, survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, physically disabled, and combined comorbidities among homeless persons.
  4. Recognize scope of unmet need for shelter housing for the homeless.
  5. Define 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. Compare prevalence of un- and underinsurance in the United States, by age, race/ethnicity, and geography.

Learning Module 2: Public Health Insurance

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

Learning Module 3: Delivery Systems

  1. Describe major components of the U.S. healthcare delivery system.
  2. Recognize eligibility criteria for VA health coverage.
  3. Appreciate the size and range of services of the VA health system.
  4. Identify VA health system services targeting the needs of homeless veterans.
  5. Describe financing mechanisms, structure, and number of persons served by FQHCs.
  6. Identify funding sources and population served by CMH.
  7. Describe funding mechanisms, governance structure, and range of services for free clinics.

Caring for the Underserved

Learning Module 4: Homelessness & Disease

  1. Identify type and prevalence of conditions more common among people experiencing homelessness.
  2. Describe prevalence of tobacco use and substance use disorders in the homeless population.
  3. Describe examples of biomedical complications of food scarcity and malnutrition.
  4. Recognize common skin conditions of the homeless, and treatment options.
  5. Describe management of exposure-related conditions seen in cold conditions: frost bite, immersion foot, and hypothermia.
  6. Identify challenges to chronic disease management imposed by homelessness, precarious housing, and food scarcity.

Learning Module 5: Social Determinants of Health

  1. Define health disparities and healthcare disparities, in the context of two moral frameworks—social justice and compassion.
  2. List major classes of social drivers of health: race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, environment, behavioral factors, and health system characteristics.
  3. State examples of negative health consequences of uninsured status.

Learning Module 6: Biopsychosocial Health

  1. Describe five major classes of psychosocial and behavioral determinants of health: mental health conditions, behavioral disorders, social support relationships, and community resources.
  2. Identify type and prevalence of mental health disorders common among homeless persons.
  3. Recall diagnostic criteria for major common substance use disorders.
  4. Describe major features of substance use treatment programs and role of primary care clinicians.
  5. Describe major features of recovery-oriented and harm reduction substance abuse services.
  6. Identify components of the readiness-for-change model and motivational counseling, and their application among homeless patients.

Learning Module 7: Team Care

  1. Describe training, licensure, and scope of practice of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists.
  2. Describe training, licensure, and scope of practice of social workers and case managers.
  3. Compare scope of practice of addiction counselors and mental health providers.
  4. Identify outreach, team-based health care delivery models of demonstrated effectiveness among persons experiencing homelessness.
  5. Identify specific team skills and communication approaches essential to high-functioning, interdisciplinary care teams.