Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center
Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team
The HPACT team consists of program manager Dr. Elizabeth Call, MD, Brenda Goodgame, RN, and Dawn Mills, NP.
It’s estimated that there are over 60,000 homeless Veterans in the United States.
In fiscal year 2013, the VA dedicated $5.8 billion towards the goal to end Veteran homelessness by 2015. Since the initiative began, the recorded percentage of Veterans who are homeless has dropped by 17.2 percent.
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center launched a special program in July of this year to assist our Veterans in need. The Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) is a primary care clinic managed by our Mental Health service. The HPACT team consists of program manager Dr. Elizabeth Call, MD, Dawn Mills, NP, and Brenda Goodgame, RN.
Dr. Call is dual board certified in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry and worked the last 5 years for MUSC Internal Medicine. Ms. Mills, a nationally certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and graduate of MUSC, brings 13 years of experience in Internal Medicine, Women’s Health and Foot Care. Nurse Goodgame has extensive experience as a VA care manager, triage and in-patient clinician.
The team’s focus is to deliver just-in-time primary care, allowing for daily walk-in appointments and assisting with mental health and substance related issues. The team also works closely with other programs to make housing referrals if that is something the Veteran expresses they would like. Patients that see the HPACT team do not have to be enrolled in VA or community housing programs, as some are more comfortable on their own.
Homeless Veterans or those living in temporary housing that do not have a primary care doctor qualify to use this program. The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8a-4p with walk-in hours from 9a-11a, room A367.
