On the Streets, Making a Difference: Huntington Nurse Featured in CBS LA Segment

Photo credit: City of Pasadena

Huntington Hospital's Community Outreach Nurse, Patty Nogueda, RN, BSN, recently appeared in a CBS LA news segment, showing how she helps unhoused individuals living on Pasadena urban streets. Nogueda, along with Pasadena first responders, are part of a street-based mobile unit called the Pasadena Outreach Response Team (PORT), which helps people experiencing homelessness connect with housing, medical care and mental health services.

The crew filmed the PORT team working in the field, talking familiarly with unhoused people they have come to know through visits and offering medical check-ups when needed. Noguega showed the camera a truckload of medical supplies she has on hand as she walks the city streets. "I carry a blood pressure machine… I check blood sugar," she explained.

In one clip, she and Pasadena Fire Departments' Chris Figueroa delivered medical attention to a patient who was sitting on a park bench. "We talked about him getting a primary care physician," Nogueda shared.

Since 2023, PORT has gotten nearly 100 people into housing and made 6,200 contacts with people experiencing homelessness. In the piece, Pasadena Public Health Director, Manuel Carmona explained that of those 6,200, around 50% had 911 calls diverted to PORT, who presented them with help.

Carmona sees PORT members - Nogueda and Pasadena Fire Department first responders - as a vital resource to individuals facing homelessness in the community.

Visit the CBS LA's webpage to watch the segment.