Birmingham Health Care 
for the Homeless Coalition Inc.
(205-323-5311)
May  7, 1997

Category: Client travel record: Arrived on Greyhound about 8PM on May 6th, 1997 and given lodging. Very professional help and excellent staff does immediate intake, and sets me up to recieve treatment which may take several months to actually schedule for surgery:

Category; Client intake/referral Medical: Birmingham Health Care does evaluation for health are and referral to Cooper Green, and request for extension of housing to Salvation Army. Housing Issue For Surgery: The question of possible housing from Salvation Army is kind of iffy and base on interview with Social Service Director  Mark Rowe grants extension with no problems and medical testing began May 8, 1997.  

Category: Client medical treatment/testing: Biopsy and Silver Nitrate: Dr. Harris at Cooper Green Hospital does biopsy for lesion on neck to see if Melanomia places Silver Nitrate in biopsy are and Hepatitis test to see if I have Hepatitis C or got past bad test result from Nevada (August 1992).  Biopsy and Test Purpose: The test will determine if I need surgery on neck or limitation on employment and activities as  result of possibile Heptatitis.  If no problems will ask   medical staff to sign statement to authorize work in food industry (dishwasher) and clean of infectious diseases which creates possible employment....  

Category: Doctor declines treat tumor: Medical Opinion Decline Treat Tumor: Dr. Harris has examined tumor in  groin and explains he is afraid to operate at this time because:Bad location to heal in groin, Open to infection and in hairy area, Will incapacites me for long period of time to heal, Suggest I wait on this operation till future. Financial Problem:  To see Doctor Harris on May 13, 1997 requires a payment to registration at Cooper Green Hospital which I do not have and no way to get funds.  Alternate recommendation to Dr. Johnson is attached if needed to explore other options.

Category: Failure housing arrangements: Failure Housing Agreement: Mark Rowe, Social worker at the Salvation Army Lodge has failed to make clear cut instructions to the staff about my stay. Staff states they have no written authorization to extend my stay.

Category: Surgical options/ Infection in Biopsy: Surgery with sleeping in bushes is not feasiable option and has been denied by Dr. Harris. Biopsy Infected and Not responsive treatment: Biopsy site has gotten infected and is leaking a lot of pus and what appears to be Silver Nitrate. Begin putting lots of peroxide on site which appears to lessen infection and the biopsy hole expands to about 3/4 inch around, maybe 1/4 inch deep and has angry raised lip around it. Category; Question of orgin of Infection: Quesiton: Has site gotten an infection because Salvation Army Lodge is not clean or is this part of treatment where Doctor Harris is resolving problem? Delivery letter to Dr. Harris about closed housing options and other concerns on a Monday?. Exit Birmingham by City Bus to Bessmer.

Mr. Chris Walters
c/o Birmingham Health Care For The Homeless, Inc.
715 25th Street, North
PO Box 11523 Birmingham,
Ala 35203-1523
(Message c/o Shunda 205-323-5311)

Resident Doctor Harris
Supervising Surgeon Phillip Johnson
Cooper Green Hospital
2130 11th Avenue North
Birmingham, Al 35203

RE: Reassessment of Appointment 1PM 5/13/97:
Medical Record Number: 328587

Dear Dr. Harris:

I can't thank you enough for your work and consultation on 5/8/97 to:

1. Biopsy place on my neck to see if it is "Melanomia" and needs surgical removal or simply mole to be ignored. The Silver Nitrate Dr. Harris placed in biopsy hole got infected and it has almost cleared up.

2. Testing for possible Viral Hepatitis C to see if I can clear a blood test and if so get the public health clearance completed so I can work as dishwasher in kitchen.

3. Recommendation Defer Surgery: Dr. Jenelli at Roseburg, OR and Dr. Vivian at Tucson had failed surgical attempts to lance spilt vein in groin and you seem to concur with Surgeon at San Marcos, TX (10-1995):

(a). Vein is in bad location, will be hard to heal, and very prone to infection.

(b). Surgery will leave large hole and might keep me off my feet for quite a while.

Actions Based on Resources & Recommendations I can't raise the money to get past registration for our appointment on 5/13/97 and am not real sure if you operate on this date if I can get housing for another 7 days. I have a nearby city where I can go and if you recommend surgery should be able to stay long enough to heal up and avoid infection. On arriving in this city I will contact a Dr. and ask him to call you to get your final recommendations and lab findings and the resources to make any actions workable. Thanks again for your prompt and expert assistance. I hope to arrive at the nearby city and have someone contact your office to follow up on your findings and recommendations.

With Best Wishes
Chris Walters Patient

Service Process

Believed PM on Sunday, May 11th, 1997 to Cooper Green Hospital/ 1 letter to Dr. Harris/ 1 letter to Dr. Johnson/ a. 2 Follow up phone calls from Meridian about May 17th, 1997 from Multi County Community Action Agency at Meridian, MS (601-483-4838) b. Numerous fax request from Nurse McCarty. 34 Meridian Continues Medical Work: May 16, 1997