Income Support Needs and Bedside Legal Assistance for Patients Recovering From Violent Injuries

Do patients recovering from violent injuries have income support needs, and is bedside legal assistance associated with financial benefit?In this cohort study of 516 patients admitted with violent injuries at an urban trauma center, 94.8% had at least 1 legal need, with income support (required by 89.3% of participants) being the most frequent need. The financial benefits of bedside legal assistance included $264 068 in lump sum payments and $482 998 in recurring payments to patients over 2 years.This study found that legal needs among patients recovering from violent injuries are nearly universal, particularly the need for income support with public benefits; bedside legal assistance may be one solution for addressing needs.

Corresponding Author: Elizabeth L. Tung, MD, MS, University of Chicago, 5841 S Maryland Ave, MC 2007, Chicago, IL 60637 (eliztung@uchicago.edu).

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