|
 “We are living in a deeply unprecedented moment,
and holding the emotional ramifications of that inside will only be
harder on you. Please know that you don’t have to feel it all
alone,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “My administration is here to
serve you and help see you through this time of crisis – I want you
to know that we’re here to help.”
Remote Patient Monitoring Program
Illinois has launched a new Remote Patient Monitoring Program
utilizing Telehealth Services and Pandemic Health Worker (PHW)
Programs in partnership with OSF HealthCare and Southern Illinois
University School of Medicine.
The program will reduce barriers to health and mental health
services to support residents across Illinois with a focus on
underserved communities and those at risk during the COVID-19
pandemic.
"To help see all our residents through this pandemic, the Department
has contracted for these specific at-home COVID-19 supports for
anyone in the state regardless of whether they are insured," said
Theresa Eagleson, Director of Illinois Department of Healthcare and
Family Services. “We’ve also significantly expanded telehealth and
remote options to ensure access to health care, including addiction
and mental health treatment, for our over 3 million Medicaid
members.”
Pandemic Health Workers (PHWs) will digitally connect with members
in the community who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and need to
stay home or quarantine to protect themselves and others.
PHWs will virtually visit recipients daily, deliver wellness kits
that include essential tools to monitor their health, and follow-up
over a 14-day period to ensure no further assistance is needed.
Wellness kits will include items such as thermometers, pulse
oximeters, blood pressure cuffs, and alcohol wipes.
Through this statewide program, the state of Illinois will safeguard
hospitals from being overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, limit the
spread of the virus, and digitally support those needing care.
A person is eligible for the program if he or she is showing
COVID-19 symptoms, or is at high risk for contracting the virus, but
does not require emergency or inpatient care, and can be digitally
monitored at home.
[to top of second column] |
A person must call the COVID-19 hotlines for a final
determination of eligibility for the Pandemic Health Worker Program.
The Department of Healthcare and Family Services has
formalized contracts for Central and Southern Illinois and is
finalizing the partnership for the Northern Region this coming week.
The OSF PHW teams are serving East Central and North Central
Illinois communities include Peoria/Bloomington, Champaign/Urbana,
Evergreen Park, Danville, Galesburg, Kewanee, Monmouth, Ottawa,
Mendota, Streator, Pontiac and Rockford. The OSF Hotline number is
833-673-5669 and is available now. More information can be found at
www.osfhealthcare.org.
The SIU SOM PHW program is serving West Central and Southern
Illinois include Springfield, Quincy, Decatur, Carbondale, and Metro
East communities. The SIU Hotline number is 217-545-5100 and will be
available starting Monday. More information can be found at
www.siumed.edu/phw.
Call4Calm
The Illinois Department of Human Services’ Mental Health Division
has launched a free-of-charge emotional support text line,
Call4Calm, for Illinois residents experiencing stress and mental
health issues related to COVID-19.
Individuals who would like to speak with a mental health
professional can text “TALK” to 5-5-2-0-2-0, or for Spanish,
“HABLAR” to the same number: 5-5-2-0-2-0. Call4Calm is free to use,
and individuals will remain anonymous.
Once a resident sends a text to the hotline, within 24 hours they
will receive a call from a counselor employed by a local community
mental health center to provide support.
Individuals can also text 5-5-2-0-2-0, with key words such as
“unemployment” or “food” or “shelter” and will receive information
on how navigate and access supports and services.
[Office of the Governor JB Pritzker] |
