Program description
In the Spring of 2020, Peninsula Community Health Services (PCHS) collaborated with the Bremerton Fire Department (BFD) to establish the Bremerton Ambulatory Team (BAT). The BAT consists of a medical provider, medical assistant, and community health worker, as well as support from behavioral health professionals, working to reduce the number of non-emergent calls to Emergency Medical Services by meeting people where they are. Read more in our Connecting Community Members to Care report.
Populations of emphasis
BAT serves individuals who experience barriers to accessing care in a traditional setting including, but not limited to:
Homelessness and/or isolation
Limited mobility/access to transportation
Mental illness and/or SUD concerns
Cultural and/or linguistic barriers
Health literacy and/or lack of familiarity with existing resources
How it works
BFD sends referral to PCHS when unique, non-emergency support is needed.
BAT reaches out to the client to assess individual needs.
BAT deploys mobile healthcare services to client residence.
BAT helps client address acute needs as well as connects them with existing services.
BAT provides some case management, often helping clients navigate insurance, transportation, housing, food, clothing, etc.
Tips for success
Complete a needs assessment and outline what specific problems the program will address.
Consider multiple ways to deploy field services (mobile clinic, co-locating with a community partner, etc.).
Funding
Services billed to patient insurance
PCHS has income-based sliding-scale fee and financial assistance programs
Contact
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Connecting Community Members to Care Report
OCH is honored to share the success of the Bremerton Ambulatory Team. We are inspired by their continuing commitment to timely, compassionate care that meets individual client needs. Read more about this and other successes in our new Connecting Community Members to Care report.
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