Work of Dignity Health’s Substance Use Navigators highlighted this holiday season

Navigators provide critical support in Emergency Departments, helping patients find a path to recovery

As Central Coast residents continue to gather for the holidays, Dignity Health is highlighting a life-changing program that has helped patients overcome the devastation of opioid addiction. 

Dignity Health’s commitment to sustaining its Substance Use Navigators across its emergency departments (EDs) is providing crucial support for those battling addiction, ensuring they are not only treated in crisis but also connected to long-term recovery resources.

In 2022, more than 7,285 Californians lost their lives to opioid overdoses, including more than 6,473 deaths attributed to fentanyl alone. Fentanyl-related deaths doubled over the past year, and California's emergency rooms saw more than 21,000 visits related to opioid overdoses, according to the California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard.

For many, the holidays are a time to reflect on what they’re grateful for—and for those who have been touched by the opioid epidemic, the support of Dignity Health’s Navigators is a reason to be thankful.

"Dignity Health has long partnered with the community to try and address substance use disorders, but the addition of the navigator has helped us to formalize these relationships and build better pathways, provide the much needed care coordination, and allowed us to provide more comprehensive intervention to someone at our door, actively asking for help,” said Amelia Grover, the SUN Program Manager for Dignity Health’s Central Coast hospitals. “We recognize the great honor and responsibility we have to our community in helping to provide this care."

Since 2019, Dignity Health’s Substance Use Navigator program has helped more than 36,600 patients access vital treatment for substance use disorders. With 29 navigators working across the state, they provide immediate intervention and connect patients to treatment options, community resources, and long-term recovery support.

“Opioid overdose deaths are preventable, and we are committed to being part of the solution,” shares Julie Sprengel, President of CommonSpirit Health’s California Region. “By establishing the role of our Navigators in our emergency rooms, we ensure that patients in crisis not only receive the immediate care they need but also have continuous support throughout their recovery journey.”

Dignity Health is the largest health system in California addressing the opioid crisis head-on, with 19 hospitals named to the Opioid Honor Roll for their efforts to combat the epidemic. These hospitals continue to provide access to life-saving resources and treatment for substance use disorder, a critical step in saving lives and reducing the impact of the opioid crisis on communities across the state.

As part of its ongoing efforts to fight the opioid crisis, Dignity Health is also committed to making Narcan, the opioid overdose reversal medication, available for free at most pharmacies across California. We are also training numerous clinicians and staff members about anti-stigma literacy as addiction is a medical condition not a moral failing, which is a stereotype that can inhibit patients from seeking care. 

“There’s no greater kindness than being non-judgmental of patients impacted by substance use disorders,” said Kathy Krebs-Dean, CommonSpirit's Anti-Stigma Initiative leader.

This holiday season, Dignity Health is thankful for the opportunity to help patients heal, recover, and rebuild their lives—one step at a time. Learn more about Dignity Health on the Central Coast here.