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Dignity Health Woodland Memorial Hospital partners with Empower Yolo on ER patient navigator program

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Woodland, CA, June 22, 2018 – Dignity Health Woodland Memorial Hospital and Empower Yolo TODAY announced an expansion of their existing partnership to include a pilot program targeted towards under and uninsured patients that come to the emergency department for non-urgent needs that could be better served in an outpatient setting such as a primary care office or urgent care.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with Empower Yolo on an innovative solution to help educate patients and assist them with accessing vital community resources,” said Kevin Vaziri, President of Woodland Memorial Hospital. “Often, our emergency department is inundated with patients who do not need emergent care. By collaborating with Empower Yolo, our patients will gain a greater understanding of the available resources and get the appropriate care at the appropriate time.”

The ER Patient Navigator Program is focused on health care navigation, which assists patients in connecting with a medical home and helping them gain a better understanding of their benefits if they do have coverage. It also helps patients obtain access to community resources, such as mental health resources, while decreasing visits to the hospital’s emergency room. Since the program launched in May, more 40 patients have been served.

Patient Navigators also spend a considerable amount of time following up with patients post-discharge to remind them of upcoming appointments, inquire whether they were able to make their appointments and assist with coordinating transportation to medical appointments as needed.

“We are honored to be working side-by-side with Woodland Memorial Hospital on such a meaningful program that is positively impacting lives,” said Lynnette Irlmeier, Executive Director of Empower Yolo. “Every day, we get to see first-hand the difference that this program is making the lives of patients and the communities we serve. It’s exciting and fulfilling work for both organizations.”

About Empower Yolo

Established in 1977, Empower Yolo provides twenty-four hour crisis intervention, emergency shelter, confidential counseling, training, legal assistance, and other services for individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, and child abuse. The agency also has resource centers in Woodland, Davis, Knights Landing and West Sacramento that connect individuals and families to community services to improve the health, social, educational and economic outcomes of Yolo County residents. For more information about Empower Yolo, click here.

Publish date: 

Friday, June 22, 2018

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Media Contact: 

Lindsay Leszczynski 
External Communications Manager
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