Compassionate recuperative care

Managed by Harborview and located at Jefferson Terrace

Harborview's Medical Respite Program (Edward Thomas House Medical Respite) is a unique harm reduction program that provides recuperative care to people experiencing homelessness who are too sick to return to the shelter or streets, but do not require a hospital level of care.

Medical Respite is operated by Harborview Medical Center. Harborview Medical Center is owned by King County, governed by a county-appointed board of trustees and managed under contract by the University of Washington.

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respite-program-jefferson-terrace

Making referrals:

To make a referral to Medical Respite, please call the Screener directly at 206.744.5277. Once determined that your referral meets eligibility criteria complete a Respite Referral Form and fax it to the screener at 206.744.5233. If you are referring from an inpatient unit, use the Inpatient to Respite Referral Checklist to gather and fax information required for a complete referral. Please make sure your patient is aware that he/she will be sharing a room with one to two other people.

To fax documents, please use the clinic fax number: 206.744.5233.

Specialized approach & team structure:

Our team uses a harm reduction philosophy to work together with the patient to resolve medical problems; assess and treat patients for mental illness and/or substance use; and connect patients to primary care, public funding and housing. The Medical Respite care team is comprised of our medical director, psychiatric provider, ARNPs, registered nurses, medical assistants, mental health practitioners (respite case managers) and mental health specialists.

Eligibility criteria:

  • Patient must have an acute medical problem that requires daily nursing care
  • Patients must be referred by a medical provider, hospital, emergency department or clinic
  • For further information, please see Respite Admissions Criteria.

Other affiliations include:

  • UW Medical Center - Northwest 
  • Virginia Mason Medical center
  • Swedish Medical Center
  • University of Washington Medical Center
  • Valley Medical Center
  • Healthcare for the Homeless Network – Seattle & King County Public Health

Location information:

Location
800 Jefferson St.
Seattle, WA 98104 

Mailing address
325 Ninth Ave.
Box 359944
Seattle, WA 98104

Phone
206.744.5200 

Fax
206.744.5233

Hours
Open 24/7

Information on directions and parking:

From I-5 North: Take the James Street Exit. At the light, turn right onto James Street. Go east to 9th Avenue (2 blocks) and take a right onto 9th Avenue. Take the next right onto Jefferson Street. Jefferson Terrace is located on the right, directly across the street from the Harborview Emergency Department.

From I-5 South: Take the James Street Exit. Turn left onto James Street. Go up east up the hill to 9th Avenue and turn right onto 9th Avenue. Take the next right onto Jefferson Street. Jefferson Terrace is located on the right, directly across the street from the Harborview Emergency Department.