Four months in hospital.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 the average total length of time some of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 most vulnerable people spend in an acute-care bed over the course of one year.

The estimated cost to the health care system of that care: $97,000 per person.

This is only one of the costs associated with the standard approach to the homeless, mentally ill and addicted. A newer approach, however, is showing it can bring these numbers down significantly.

Five years since it launched, the has published its first set of data showing results over three years.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been so successful,B次元官网网址� said Joe Power, manager of mental health and addictions with the Vancouver Island Health Authority, one of the teamB次元官网网址檚 funders.

VICOT is an interdisciplinary team providing intensive, collaborative support to the regionB次元官网网址檚 most street-entrenched population.

Last week its 2011 annual report was made public.

The numbers show that before being referred to VICOT, an average client spent a total of 121 days in an acute care bed over 12 months.

In the first year of support, that number dropped to an average of 35 days. In the second year, it dropped even further, to 11 days.

Multiplied over 65 clients B次元官网网址� VICOTB次元官网网址檚 average caseload B次元官网网址� the savings to the health-care system equals roughly $6 million per year.

B次元官网网址淲hat this doesnB次元官网网址檛 capture is emergency room visits and ambulance rides B次元官网网址� so (there are) significant savings, hence the justification for these teams,B次元官网网址� Power said.

VICOT comprises a team of 12 people, including nurses, outreach workers, social workers, a probation officer, a police officer and a Ministry of Social Development assistance worker.

They share an office and meet daily to share information about clients.

In the first year, clientsB次元官网网址� lives stabilize as they build a relationship with their team. In year two, they begin the rehabilitation process, Power said.

The annual report also presents data about police intervention.

dropped from 95 in the year before their acceptance into the program to 31 the following year.

The types of police calls also changed, said Trudy Chyzowski, VICOT team leader.

B次元官网网址淚 think sometimes we always think about police calls as being a negative encounter,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭he one thing that has changed B次元官网网址� is that some of the clients are seeing positive encounters with police B次元官网网址� perhaps theyB次元官网网址檙e calling in to report crimes.B次元官网网址�

Despite its successes, VICOT faces some ongoing challenges.

Finding housing for clients is a constant struggle, Chyzowski said.

B次元官网网址淎ny change in individualB次元官网网址檚 lives is not going to be significant unless somebody has a roof over their head first and can create some stability in their lives,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭rying to change a drug addiction problem B次元官网网址� when somebody is living on the street is near impossible.B次元官网网址�

Another challenge is tracking.

To date there has been no comprehensive analysis of the costs and benefits of the program over time.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in the process of gathering the longitudinal, the evaluational data,B次元官网网址� Power said. B次元官网网址淚nformation and data gathering is always a challenge (with limited staff resources).B次元官网网址�

For instance, the total cost of the 12-member team isnB次元官网网址檛 known, but elsewhere, similar teams have a budget of $1.4 million.

Also not tracked is client progress after graduating from VICOTB次元官网网址檚 support program.

B次元官网网址淲hat we hope to find, and we expect to find, is that a certain subset of the clients will no longer need the services of the team at some point and will become productive members of society,B次元官网网址� Power said.

rholmen@vicnews.com