DCPCA is launching a pilot project with area hospitals and community health centers to reduce the unnecessary and costly use of emergency rooms for non-urgent care.  The project will use Community Health Workers to intervene and link patients with their medical home.  The effort is a component of DCPCA’s Medical Homes DC initiative to enhance the capacity of the District’s primary care safety net to address health and related needs in medically underserved areas.

The program’s goals are three-fold:  (1) address the problem of excessive health care costs; (2) steer individuals to a medical home where they can benefit from a regular source of care; and (3) establish the concept of Community Health Workers as a sustainable strategy to reduce ER over-utilization and address health care needs. 

DCPCA’s ER Diversion Pilot Project Involves:

ER Pilot Sites.  Project partners’ hospitals will be selected based on Ambulatory Care Sensitive (ACS) volume, location, and ability to incorporate ER diversion activities into their emergency department. 

Health Center Pilot Sites.  Primary care sites will be chosen based on proximity to ER, ACS patient residence, geographic diversity, language access, and ability to provide appointment slots for pilot program patients.

Community Health Workers.  DCPCA will recruit and train Community Health Workers for the project.  Instruction will include communication skills, patient navigation, the DC safety net system, and other relevant topics.

DCPCA’s ER Diversion Pilot Project Details: 

• CHWs would be stationed in participating hospital ERs (shifts TBD).
• Patients with ACS conditions could be identified at triage.
• The CHW would assess the patient’s medical care needs after they have been seen by a physician and offer connection to a suitable medical home, including making an appointment.
• The CHW would follow up with the patient over the next few days/weeks to ensure successful linkage to the primary care provider.
• The CHW would assess the patient’s social situation and offer connection to social services, if appropriate.
• The CHW would document relevant information for data collection and evaluation purposes.