Build Healthy Lives by Connecting to Quality Assistance Project Access San Diego and 2-1-1

As the medical community liaison for the SDCMS Foundation’s Project Access San Diego (PASD), San Diego County’s only comprehensive network of coordinated, donated healthcare services for medically underserved patients, I’ve learned many things from my visits with our PASD volunteer specialists, one of which is the need to disseminate information to our physician community about 2-1-1 San Diego.

2-1-1 is a resource and information hub that connects people across San Diego County with community, health, and disaster services through a free, 24/7, stigma-free, confidential phone service and searchable online database (see www.211sandiego.com for more than 6,000 health and human service programs provided by more than 2,000 community agencies). By dialing 2-1-1, clients are linked to a live, highly trained client services representative who navigates them through their situation by assessing their needs and then matching them to the best and closest resources in their community. These representatives speak multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Somali, and utilize a translation service of more than 190 languages.

The majority of calls begin by addressing food and housing needs, but the wise and trained client services representatives also check eligibility for additional public assistance programs, including Medi-Cal. There are two dedicated health navigation specialists available — also by appointment — to assist with finding in-depth medical help. Currently, healthcare and mental health/substance abuse account for about 15 percent of referrals per year, but this is becoming more critical with the current economic woes and fears.

The sophisticated telecommunications equipment at 2-1-1 also plays an important role in regional disaster assistance. During a disaster, 2-1-1 works with the County of San Diego’s Office of Emergency Services to provide public information to the community and rumor control, and to act as the central communications point for other community agencies and nongovernmental organizations. During the wildfires, for instance, more than 120,000 callers were assisted with related problems. Additionally, 2-1-1 collects and interprets data reflecting gaps in service and trends, such as a decrease in emergency and nonemergency visits to hospitals and other clinical centers. PASD has shown similar reductions in acute and chronic care generated by the consultations donated by our specialist volunteers.

2-1-1 San Diego is a nationally prominent information service for everyone in areas of social services, and is an expanding navigational resource in physical and mental health. With a closer association between our physician community and 2-1-1, San Diegans can be directed to primary medical care that is complementary to the specialty consultations provided by PASD. John Ohanian, 2-1-1’s visionary and dedicated chief executive officer, states their role so well:

“Our mission at 2-1-1 San Diego is to listen to the needs of every single client with compassion, and to get them connected to help. It’s critical that we take these thousands of voices and build systems together that make it easier for the community to connect to quality assistance in order to build healthy lives.”

Remember 2-1-1, an invaluable collaborator, as we strive to bring improved health and wellbeing to all.

N11 CODES:

N11 codes, more formally known as service codes, are used to provide three-digit dialing access to special services. In the United States, the FCC administers N11 codes. The FCC recognizes 211, 311, 511, 711, 811, and 911 as nationally assigned, but has not disturbed other traditional uses. The table below summarizes N11 assignments, reservations, and traditional usage. In some states, N11 codes that are not assigned nationally may be assigned locally, provided that these local assignments can be withdrawn promptly if a national assignment is made. There are no industry guidelines for the assignment of N11 codes. For information about obtaining a national N11 assignment, contact the appropriate regulatory authority (www.naruc.org/commissions.cfm).

• 211: Community Information and Referral Services
• 311: Non-emergency Police and Other Governmental Services
• 411: Local Directory Assistance
• 511: Traffic and Transportation Information
• 611: Repair Service
• 711: Telecommunications Relay Service
• 811: Access to One-call Services to Protect Pipeline and Utilities From Excavation Damage
• 911: Emergency