PORTLAND, Maine — The first recuperative care program in Maine is helping those unhoused or in-between housing receive much needed medical care, and it's wrapping up its first year.
The two-year pilot program ties in Preble Street, Greater Portland Health, and Maine Medical Center to offer care on all sides.
"Being homeless, he wasn't able to get the surgery that he needed over the last few years," Medical Director Rob Fulton recalled after a patient was left unable to walk because of to a condition at birth.
"With our program, we were able to guarantee he would have a place after surgery to recover for several months," Fulton added.
The program offers up to 15 beds, all for folks discharged from Maine Medical Center. Patients are able to receive primary care, medication, behavioral health services, and social services.
"That can look [like] anything to providing [people] with certain clothing, IDs, birth certificates," Brittney LaSheir, director of social services, said.
Within the first six months of the program, 12 people were able to get connected to housing, and it's a goal for all patients who are unhoused.
In addition, the program partners with other services in the area, such as methadone clinics, to bring essential resources to patients in recovery.
"We have a partnership where they bring their dosing here once a week, so our clients don't have to come and go every single morning," LaShier said.
Over the past year, the program has served 100 clients and is almost always at capacity.
"[There is] much higher demand than supply at this point, and we're hoping to expand to other areas in Maine and to expand the recuperative care program here in Portland," Fulton said.
Center leaders hope to expand the program to meet a growing need and hopefully match up to other states' recuperative care programs.