Thread by @askdrfitz

Who are these ‘hard to reach people?’ I’m often asked for tips on how to engage the “hard to reach”. Just now walking into Sweetgreen a man asked if had change. I told him I never carry money nowadays since so much is done w/the phone. I asked if he wanted something to eat.

He nodded and I told him I would see if I could order it on my phone. Intrigued he said, “Really? How do you do that?” This led to a conversation as we waited 15 minutes for his food. Here is what I learned about him in less than 15 min:

Born and lived in DC til he was six
doesnt have a phone
sleeps in different parks
Limited reading ability
Doesnt have a watch
Likes chicken and vegetables
Never heard of quinoa
Lost his ID
Went to human services center but was refused services because he didnt have an ID!

I stayed with this conversation about the service center for a few minutes to understand what happened. In a nutshell, there are too many steps to get help which required him to go to different places but he didn’t have transportation money.

Recently hospitalized but could only tell me they gave him an injection and he has some kind of cancer
Doesnt have a doctor
Upon discharge, he doesnt recall being assigned assistance post hospitalization
Doesnt have Medicaid because he doesnt have an ID

spent 26 years in prison, released several months ago but no one has helped him navigate his way through the health care system.
He said he still wears the hospital wristband because he doesn’t have ID.

Look at that list and ask yourself if he was hard to reach. After all, he was just sitting there, right out in the open. He made eye contact and asked me a question. Easiest connection ever.

#humanity #hcldr @hcldr