Whole Person Care

It isn't rocket science that homelessness is bad for your health, but not knowing how to get help can turn manageable health issues into emergency room visits. Medi-Cal is starting to address that problem with integrated data management, to help people avoid situations that worsen their physical and mental health.

In an integrated system, a patient needing critical medical care would be flagged any time they enter a homeless shelter, emergency department, substance abuse center or mental health facility. In a pilot program, Contra Costa Health Services was able to reduce hospital admission rates by 25%.