Dignity Health Commits to Sustaining Navigators as California Overdose Crisis Continues

OAKLAND, CA – December 13, 2023 - As drug overdose deaths remain at unprecedented highs across California, Dignity Health has committed to sustain Navigators in its emergency departments. These critical roles were originally established under a grant from CA Bridge, which works to establish substance use disorder treatment programs in virtually every hospital across the state. 

“We’ve seen overdose mortality rise with almost 1,000 Californians dying every month and alarming increases in communities of color where access to treatment is under-resourced,” said Dr. Aimee Moulin, Co-Founder of CA Bridge. “Hospitals have a responsibility to be part of the solution, and we applaud Dignity Health for their commitment to sustaining this program long-term."

The Navigators were first funded by the California Department of Health Care Services through CA Bridge which partners with hospital systems to implement evidence-based models for treating substance use disorder. By having dedicated staff known as Substance Use Navigators, in the emergency department, patients can be immediately linked to longer-term treatment and community resources. 

Now that the grant period has ended, sustaining these programs requires health systems to step up and commit to helping address this important and ongoing public health issue. Their decision to retain the Navigator positions underscores the value of this innovative model of care.  

“Since 2019, the CA Bridge program at Dignity Health has helped more than 36,600 vulnerable patients receive treatment,” shares Julie Sprengel, President, CommonSpirit Health’s California Region. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to continue to provide these valuable resources in our emergency rooms. The Navigators are critical to this life-saving and life-changing work.”

Dignity Health's dedication comes at a pivotal moment. CA Bridge encourages other health systelms across California to follow their lead. For the thousands of individuals and families devastated by substance use disorder each year, expanding access to treatment in emergency departments is the best way to reduce disparities, and save lives. 

About CA Bridge 

CA Bridge is a program of the Public Health Institute aimed at supporting all of California’s 331 acute care hospitals to treat substance use disorder like any other medical illness. Founded in 2018, CA Bridge led the largest expansion in the country of evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, reaching 85% of California’s acute care hospitals. 

About CommonSpirit Health 

CommonSpirit Health is a nonprofit, Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. It was created in February 2019 by Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health. With its national office in Chicago and a team of over 150,000 employees and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians, CommonSpirit operates 142 hospitals and nearly 2,200 care sites across 24 states. In FY 2023, CommonSpirit had revenues of $34.6 billion and provided $5 billion in charity care, community benefit, and unreimbursed government programs. Learn more at www.commonspirit.org.