Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare Recognizes the UniHealth Foundation for Providing Funds to Implement Patient Navigation Services

Services improve patients’ successful transition after discharge, enhancing patient health, quality of life and reintegration with the community, family and workforce

POMONA, Calif., August 23, 2016 — Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, a leading medical, surgical and rehabilitation service provider, is pleased to acknowledge the support by a grant in the amount of $859,862 from the UniHealth Foundation, a non-profit philanthropic organization whose mission is to support and facilitate activities that significantly improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities within its service area. The project focus is to provide patient navigation supportive services to Casa Colina patients after discharge from the hospital. These support services follow Casa Colina’s mission for patients of all diagnoses to achieve a stable and sustainable lifestyle by providing ongoing care and support within the community.

“Casa Colina’s mission includes our commitment to enhance the quality of life of every person we serve in an environment that recognizes their uniqueness, dignity and self-esteem,” said Felice L. Loverso, Ph.D., President and CEO of Casa Colina. “Patient navigation services extend this important mission to our patients even after discharge. It is with great sincerity that we express gratitude to the UniHealth Foundation for its generous support of these much-needed services in our community.”

While patient navigation is common in oncology, the concept of patient navigation for individuals with chronic disabilities is still unique. This funded program, titled Promoting Discharge Success with a High-risk Transitional Navigation System, is an innovative approach to providing additional support to all patients who are identified as “high risk” for complications during the important transition from hospital discharge back into the community. It especially addresses potential gaps in services experienced by many individuals who have made significant progress in medical recovery and rehabilitation, but find obstacles in self-managing their needs upon discharge.

Emily Rosario, Ph.D., Director of the Casa Colina Research Institute, will oversee the project and track the program outcomes, including measuring such factors as frequency of patients at post-discharge experiencing urinary tract infections (UTIs), pressure ulcers, pneumonia, depression, loss of functional gains made in rehabilitation and other complications that lead to re-hospitalizations, limitations in personal and life opportunities, decreased quality of life and increased non-productive behaviors (drug abuse, etc.).

According to Dr. Rosario, “Patients make incredible gains while they are at Casa Colina. However, their functional abilities are often not maintained after discharge. This program will aim to ensure continued success for all patients, especially those at higher risk for negative outcomes.”

To minimize these negative outcomes, key program activities include care coordination, psychosocial and medical support and providing connections to community resources for financial assistance, transportation, family needs, translation services and referrals for individual and group therapeutic support, weekly/monthly educational sessions and community activities.

Jennifer Vanore, Ph.D., senior program officer at UniHealth Foundation, stated, “Increasing access to comprehensive, coordinated care across the healthcare continuum is a priority for UniHealth Foundation. With this grant, care transition services will be provided to Casa Colina patients with chronic disabilities, enhancing wellness and improving their quality of life. UniHealth Foundation is proud to partner with Casa Colina in this important and unique program.”