Adventist Health helps patients stay connected with free mobile phones and service

HANFORD – Patients who have been isolated due to the COVID-19 pandemic are now receiving help staying connected with their loved ones and physicians.

A total of 125 Samsung Galaxy smartphones were donated to Adventist Health in the Central Valley by healthcare enterprise Centene, which is the parent company of HealthNet, an Adventist Health partner.

Each smartphone is equipped with free 90-day wireless service, enabling patients to stay connected with relatives, communicate with their healthcare providers and participate in virtual doctor’s visits.

The smartphones are being distributed to patients enrolled in the Complex Care Management program, based in Hanford and Selma, which cares for patients with advanced and complex chronic diseases who are at a higher risk of hospital readmissions and emergency department visits.

“The pandemic has interrupted daily life in ways we could not have expected,” said Dr. Raul Ayala, medical officer for Adventist Health in the Central Valley and director of the Complex Care Management program. “This donation allows us to go beyond providing quality healthcare. It simplifies the complexity of receiving access to care during and after the pandemic.”

When the wireless service expires after 90 days, patients have the option to return the device to the medical office where they received it or re-activate the service by contacting the carrier.

Questions may be directed to the Complex Care Management program at 559-537-0170. Additional information about the program may be found online at AdventistHealth.org/Central-Valley.