Community Corner

El Camino Hospital District Commitment to Help Uninsured Earns Recognition

Partnership with Santa Clara Valley Medical Center would fund services for patients at Valley Health Center in Sunnyvale.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors this week adopted a resolution that recognizes a strategic partnership between and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

This new partnership provides primary medical care to uninsured patients.

Over the past three years, ECHD has donated $3.8 million to underwrite unfunded services at Valley Health Center Sunnyvale to help nearly 14,000 patients receive cost-effective primary care and dental services. This funding helps patients avoid emergency medical and dental crises that would require significantly more money to treat.

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El Camino Hospital and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center have developed programs and support systems in preparation for the County's health care reform. An important element of the partnership is fully developing the "patient-centered medical home" model in which all care is provided in one place, by a team of health care providers.

"This support has empowered VHC Sunnyvale to build a medical home and that’s key because patients are getting all the care they need in one stop," said Chris Wilder, Valley Medical Center Foundation’s Executive Director. "When we and El Camino Hospital District team up to provide care for patients, we are improving health outcomes, and reducing trips to the emergency room and return trips to doctors."

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Recent cuts in California’s state budget have resulted in reductions in coverage for important preventive services for Santa Clara County residents using Medi-Cal, leaving many more people without health care coverage.

“This wonderful partnership allows us to improve the health of our communities with patient-centered healthcare to bring prevention, wellness and easy access to health for our community members,” said Barbara Avery, El Camino Hospital’s Director of Community Benefit.

Responding to the Board of Supervisor’s resolution, Avery added that, “We are honored that Supervisor Kniss recognized the importance of this partnership and how it is truly a model collaboration between a public health system and a non-profit hospital district.”

 


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