Saint Alphonsus Medical Center - Ontario Receives $99,150 Grant for Behavioral Health Project

Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Ontario Receives


$99,150 Grant for Behavioral Health Project


Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization awards grant to Saint Alphonsus


to implement consults for patients with behavioral health and substance use disorders

Ontario, OR – Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Ontario has been awarded a $99,150 grant to fund a new program that will provide consultations and other resources for patients with behavioral health and substance use disorders. The Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization – a group of diverse healthcare providers who work together to advance healthcare in Oregon – awarded the grant to fund the Behavioral Health Navigation Project at Saint Alphonsus.

The project, a collaboration between Saint Alphonsus and Lifeways Inc., will provide emergency room consults and post-discharge navigation services to behavioral health and substance use patients in an effort to prevent readmission to the hospital. Lifeways plans to provide in-kind training to emergency and health resource center staff to better identify behavioral health issues and treat them appropriately.

"Part of Saint Alphonsus' mission is to care for the vulnerable," said Ken Hart, Vice President of Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Ontario. "Those with behavioral health or substance use disorders need to know that they can count on us to give them the resources they need, close to home. The Behavioral Navigation Project will be reaching out to those that may have limited resources, or are unsure about the resources available to heal their body and mind."

J.A. Cordeniz, MHA, FACHE, and CEO of Lifeways, stated that "We are extremely excited about the partnership with Saint Alphonsus Medical Center - Ontario in the Behavioral Health Navigation Project. The coordination of staff by both organizations will effectively transition patients to outpatient behavioral health services, substance abuse programs, primary care providers and other community supports. We are looking forward to this much needed coordinated effort to benefit our community."

According to national estimates, 46% of Americans will experience some type of mental disorder in their lives, and those with severe mental illness die an average of ten years earlier than the general population. Substance use and the failed treatment of mental disorders is far more common in rural areas, such as Malheur County, due to the long distances from psychiatric hospitals, lack of mental health professionals, high poverty rates, and other factors.

The Behavioral Health Navigation Project aims to reduce social, psychological and financial barriers to health care, and plans to be operational by the end of 2014.

About Saint Alphonsus Health System


As a faith-based Catholic ministry and not-for-profit health system, Saint Alphonsus Health System reinvests in the communities we serve, through charity care and other benefits. Our goal is to improve the health and well-being of people by emphasizing care that is patient-centered, physician-led, innovative and community-based. Saint Alphonsus Health System serves the people of southwestern Idaho, eastern Oregon and northern Nevada through these facilities: Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center - Boise, ID; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Nampa, ID; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Ontario, OR; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City, OR; and, Saint Alphonsus Medical Group with primary and specialty care providers at 58 clinic locations, all of which are members of the Saint Alphonsus Health Alliance, a network of over 1400 employed and independent providers. To find out more go to: www.saintalphonsus.org