A new $3.5 million investment is helping St. Mary’s County rethink how residents connect to care, bringing health, behavioral health, wellness, and community services into a more connected system.
St. Mary’s County is using $3.5 million in Maryland Rural Health Transformation Program funding to launch St. Mary’s 360: Connected Care Everywhere, a countywide initiative designed to make it easier for residents to access health care, behavioral health services, oral health care, wellness programs, and other community resources.
From the press release:
People should not have to figure out the health system alone. St. Mary’s 360 brings partners, technology, and trusted local services together so residents can get connected and stay connected – to health care, to wellness support services, and to better health, said Dr. Meena Brewster, St. Mary’s County Health Officer.
Led by the St. Mary’s County Health Department, the initiative will bring together local health care providers, public health programs, emergency services, and community organizations to create a more connected system of care. St. Mary’s 360 will focus on care coordination, mobile outreach, digital health tools, and community-based services. Dedicated care coordinators will help residents navigate services and referrals, while a mobile integrated health team will provide home- and community-based outreach to residents who face barriers to care or frequently use emergency services.
The initiative will also expand the St. Mary’s County Health & Wellness Portal as a local tool for connecting residents with health and community services. Eligible participants may receive assistance accessing telehealth, remote monitoring, and other digital health resources.
The program builds on partnerships with organizations including Greater Baden Medical Services, the St. Mary’s County Department of Emergency Services, the St. Mary’s County Ambulance and Rescue Squad Association, the St. Mary’s Family YMCA, the University of Maryland Horowitz Center for Health Literacy, and WellCheck.
By connecting existing services and meeting residents where they are, St. Mary’s 360 aims to improve access to care and strengthen health outcomes across the county.
Learn more about the St. Mary’s County Health Department and Maryland Rural Health Transformation Program.
