Navigating the Health Care System

Dominican Hospital and Central California Alliance for Health Partnership Pairs Patients with Resources

Dignity Health Dominican Hospital and Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance) have launched a new Emergency Department (ED) Navigator program to help Alliance Medi-Cal patients in Santa Cruz County find health care resources in the community and avoid unnecessary emergency room visits.

The ED Navigator will serve as a patient advocate, providing onsite assistance to Alliance members with complex medical conditions prior to discharge from the ED at Dominican Hospital. The navigator can also help arrange transportation for patients’ follow-up visits as needed and will collaborate with many other community-based patient care programs to provide further support.

This program is the first of its kind in Santa Cruz, and part of a pilot program between Dignity Health and the Alliance.

“We want to support patients’ best use of the local health care system, for their own benefit,” said Stephanie Sonnenshine, the Alliance’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased to partner with Dominican Hospital on this effort to ensure that our Medi-Cal members in Santa Cruz County are connected with medical resources and programs that are matched to their needs.”

The ED Navigator will address issues on a case-by-case basis with patients, and help identify trends or patterns that could help improve processes in care. The program’s purpose lies at the core of Dominican Hospital’s mission to provide comprehensive, compassionate, and affordable health care to our community.

“Research shows that many patients who visit emergency rooms could be cared for in a more appropriate setting,” said Nanette Mickiewicz, MD, Dominican Hospital President. “The new ED Navigator program aims to support patients as they learn to self-navigate the health care system.”

Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has been caring for the Santa Cruz County community for more than 75 years. Dominican offers emergency services and is a Certified Stroke Center. To learn more, please visit our website: dignityhealth.org/dominican.

•••

The Central California Alliance for Health is an award-winning regional non-profit health plan, established in 1996, with over 21 years of successful operation. Using the State’s County Organized Health System (COHS) model, they currently serve nearly 351,591 members in Santa Cruz, Monterey and Merced counties. For more information, visit www.ccah-alliance.org.