M5
Slide 16
CONTENT
5. Emergency Department Cycling
Many individuals experiencing homelessness cycle repeatedly through emergency departments.
Reasons include:
Acute psychiatric crises
Intoxication
Withdrawal symptoms
Infections
Wound complications
Exacerbation of chronic disease
Pain crises
Emergency use is often a symptom of fragmented outpatient care.
It may indicate:
Insufficient support intensity
Poor discharge planning
Lack of ACT-level intervention
Absence of medical respite
Weak coordination between hospital and housing services
Emergency department cycling is rarely a behavioural problem. It is often a system-level signal.