Source: The BayNet
PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert County is championing its “Destination Wellness” program focused on people in the county who are high utilizers of local emergency departments.
High utilizers of the emergency department (ED) often wind up costing the medical system much more money than other patients and are less likely to actually get the care they need to get back to a healthy life. High utilizers deal with chronic illness at a higher rate, and frequent ED visits take time and resources away from other patients.
The Destination Wellness Program is meant to address the complex needs of high utilizers to help provide compassion and patient-centered care and patient services.
“The primary focus is to address the root causes of the frequent emergency department visits,” said Calvert County Health Officer Dr. Nimfa Teneza-Mora. “Their goal is to really help the patient meet their health goals.”
The program provides the following services:
Intensive case management; telephonic outreach
Limited home assessments; appointment scheduling with follow-up
SDOH screening and targeted interventions
Transportation service referrals
Provision of health education resources
Linking of patients to critical services
The program’s team consists of registered nurse case managers, chronic disease nurses and community health outreach workers. It began enrolling clients in July 2025.
The program is grant-funded by the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC). The annual grant award is renewable for a total of three years. To learn more or find out about eligibility, contact the Calvert County Health Department at DLDestinationWellness_MDH@maryland.gov or 443-624-2586.
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