ANTIOCH – As 116,000 ambulances raced across Contra Costa County in 2024, nearly one in five calls were for non-life-threatening emergencies.
With hopes of reducing the burden on emergency rooms, the Healthcare Literacy Council of Contra Costa County aims to help people better understand their health coverage, especially those on Medicare and Medi-Cal.
Dubbed “Right Care, Right Way,” the council’s new campaign focuses on education to avoid unnecessary emergency room visits and to get the care someone would need in a more affordable and effective manner.
The pilot program, established by Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis, is in collaboration with the Contra Costa Fire Protection District, Kaiser Permanente, and Contra Costa Health.
Xon Burris Jr., an assistant fire chief of the emergency medical services division with the fire district, said that approximately 20% of the 116,000 ambulances dispatched in 2024 within the district were for non-emergency services.
“This percentage is likely higher, as ALS (advanced life support) ambulances are often dispatched for non-emergency incidents depending on system demand, ambulance location, and fluctuating system status management,” Burris told this news organization at the launch of the program on Wednesday.
Fire District Chief Lewis Broschard said aside from providing fire protection for 92% of the county, the fire district is also responsible for providing emergency medical services.
But providing those services is a heavy lift, said Broschard.
“We’ve created a fiscally sustainable model, but we realized that we were running up against operational barriers, because operational sustainability was a challenge for us,” said Broschard. “So, we wanted to come up with something that we could be a part of to try and change the dynamic of people receiving health care, and not necessarily always having to fall back on the emergency departments and the 911 system.”
Burgis, who helped spearhead the council’s effort, said she has had her fair share of experience navigating the complex health care system for herself and her family.
“At 4 years old, I had an open-heart surgery, so I’ve been in the health care system all my life, I’ve learned how to maneuver it personally and had to experience that,” said Burgis. “I have a son who has a rare genetic disease. … I had to maneuver through that. So, I’ve had that experience and know how hard it is.”
Burgis said working across hospitals and safety-net services has shown her that the health care system “could do better.”
Ongoing challenges, such as overcrowded emergency rooms, could be lessened if more residents had access to and understood how to navigate the system, said Burgis.
“(By) having a primary care physician that is overseeing your health, you have a better outcome. If you don’t need to go to the emergency room, can you call an advice nurse or go to urgent care, or make an appointment for next week,” said Burgis.
She said these choices not only help improve patient health but also reduce the strain on the system and lower costs overall.
Contra Costa Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax said the campaign is timely, especially with the shift in health care access nationwide.
“Having coverage is not the same as knowing how to use it. This campaign is about closing that gap, helping residents know where to go and where to get it,” said Colfax.
The program, with an initial funding of $750,000, is scheduled to run through 2026 in District 3, with outreach efforts planned for Antioch, Oakley, Brentwood, as well as the unincorporated areas of Bethel Island, Byron, Discovery Bay, and Knightsen.
There are also plans in the pipeline to expand the program countywide as the campaign progresses.
Residents can visit the “Right Care, Right Way” website at rightcarerightway.org to learn more on where and how best to get care.
The literacy council has also appointed eight Los Medanos College students as ambassadors to spread awareness. The ambassadors will receive comprehensive training and support to share key health care information with the public.
Monique Grant, a second-year nursing student, said she is looking forward to building community engagement.
“I plan on getting the word out there. That starts by canvassing at the local churches in the area, busy businesses, and grocery stores where I can hand out flyers to invite people to our class and hear about what’s going on,” said Grant.