Every single Emergency Department in the United States treats unhoused patients on a daily basis, and their needs vary greatly from ICU level care to the common cold. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, in January 2023, there were an estimated 653,104 people experiencing homelessness on a given night (1).

Amanda Dahl MD and Rashid Kysia MD

In Chicago alone, over 1500 people died from overdose in 2023. Nationwide, the numbers are only getting worse, and the same will likely happen in our backyard. Here we review options for managing opioid use disorder in the City of Chicago to help prevent whatever harm possible.

Priyanka Pradhan, MD

The State of Affairs:

In 2022, we welcomed a million migrants to the United States, and this number is climbing (1). Many migrants, especially undocumented persons, utilize the emergency department as their primary care home due to inequities in health care access affecting this group. In order to deliver holistic and equitable care and build trust with your patients, it is important to understand both the rights of our patients and our immigration enforcement officers in the acute care setting. Below we will describe just this and provide tips for making your Emergency Department (ED) a safe place for everyone to receive health care within their rights. 

Adam Roussas, MD and Rashid Kysia, MD