Unfortunately, not every NorthBay Healthcare patient has a safety net in place to capture them after they are discharged from the hospital. Some are homeless, living on the financial edge or lack family support. When NorthBay nurses and physicians learn of these predicaments, some help is available.

“We started a special assistance fund, called the Helping Employees Reach Out (H.E.R.O.) fund, at least 25 years ago to help in these circumstances,” noted Yolanda Nunez-Bonomo, manager of Social Services. “It can be used as a special, one-time resource to help patients with basic needs upon discharge.”

Funds come from employee donations, either through payroll deduction or a one-time donation. NorthBay Healthcare matches every dollar, Yolanda explained.

“Staff will notify me, others in Social Services, in Case Management or through the Administrative Coordinator, about a patient’s special needs, and we’ll see what we can do on a case-by-case basis.”

Funds are used primarily to assist with discharge medications, or home equipment for the uninsured or under-insured, or to purchase clothing for our homeless or trauma patients. Several times a year, Yolanda restocks a supply space with sweatshirts and sweatpants in winter and shorts and t-shirts in the summer, as well as socks and hats — with money from the fund.

NorthBay also has an agreement with some local pharmacies and specific durable medical equipment companies to accept our H.E.R.O fund vouchers, so that patients can receive their needed discharge medications or home equipment. H.E.R.O funds are also used to purchase bus tickets, gas cards, and taxi rides home or to follow-up medical appointments.

“We don’t give out cash, just the vouchers,” she noted.

H.E.R.O fund money has also been used, in certain circumstances, to re-establish utilities for patients who’ve had their phone or gas shut off, or to pay back rent.

“It’s very hard for some of our patients. This fund helps us to fulfill our mission of ‘compassionate care, advanced medicine, close to home.’”