When severe pain threatened to put retired nurse Theresa Taverna in the hospital over Thanksgiving, an innovative Tufts Medical Center program helped her get the care she needed—and return home the same day.
On November 26, 2025, the day before Thanksgiving, Theresa Taverna was facing the very real possibility of spending the holiday in the hospital.
At 74, the retired Tufts Medical Center nurse had already been through years of complex medical care. Theresa retired in 2018 after two decades as a nurse at the Medical Center. She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2021 and underwent four and a half years of chemotherapy. The treatment had led to osteoporosis and, earlier that spring, a spontaneous fracture in her left tibia. Since then, pain management had been an ongoing challenge, requiring steroid injections and periodic fluid drainage.
But this felt different.
During her annual appointment at Tufts Medical Center, Theresa sat in the exam room with her primary care physician, Kimberly Schelling, MD, in severe pain. This time the pain was affecting both legs. She could barely stand, much less walk. With her condition worsening, Theresa was now at high risk for a fall, and immediate intervention was necessary.
Usually, this kind of situation leads to a hospital admission.
Instead, Theresa became one of the early success stories of a new approach to care designed to keep patients out of the hospital when it’s safe to do so.
In March 2025, Tufts Medicine launched NAVIGATE (Navigating Alternate Venues and Ambulatory Treatment), an innovative program aimed at reducing avoidable hospital admissions while improving access to timely specialty care.
The idea emerged from a simple but critical observation: Many patients arriving in the Emergency Department were being admitted for conditions that could safely be treated in an outpatient setting—if the right pathways existed.
“We listened to our frontline physicians who observed that patients were coming to the Emergency Department and being admitted for relatively mild conditions,” said Sucharita Kher, MD, Vice Chair of Clinical Operations and Quality for the Department of Medicine at Tufts Medical Center. “NAVIGATE proactively prevents avoidable admissions by creating structured outpatient pathways for conditions traditionally managed through observation stays. It is really transforming care delivery by reducing avoidable hospital admissions and improving patient access to urgent specialty care.”
NAVIGATE connects patients directly to specialists—often the same day or within the same week—ensuring they receive appropriate care without the delays or disruptions of a hospital stay.
The right care, right when it was needed
Theresa’s case came at just the right time.
One week earlier, the Department of Rheumatology had joined the NAVIGATE program. Recognizing an opportunity to avoid admission, Dr. Schelling quickly coordinated imaging and referred Theresa directly to rheumatology for urgent evaluation.
There, William Harvey, MD, Interim Chief of Rheumatology, assessed her condition.
“Theresa’s knee was quite swollen and required draining,” Dr. Harvey explained. “The fluid was very clear, meaning the risk of infection or a fracture involving the joint was very low. Lab results confirmed there was no issue requiring admission.”
Instead of being admitted, Theresa received a corticosteroid injection during the same visit.
Within hours, her pain began to improve.
Because of NAVIGATE, Theresa didn’t spend Thanksgiving in a hospital bed. She spent it at home, preparing a meal for nine and sharing the day with her family.
“It was much better, quicker and more efficient than sitting in the Emergency Department for hours or being admitted,” she said. “The quick care they provided me saved my holiday. I never expected to be fast-tracked like a VIP. It was a wonderful experience and I really appreciated it.”
Her story highlights what NAVIGATE is designed to do: Keep patients at the center of care while avoiding unnecessary hospital stays.
Early results, lasting impact
In just the first six months of the program, more than 60 patients have safely avoided hospital admission through NAVIGATE, all while maintaining strong engagement with outpatient care.
“NAVIGATE has been an exciting and valuable service for our patients and it’s a cost-saver for the healthcare system,” said Dr. Harvey. “Who knows how many more holidays, birthdays, weekends we can give to people who would otherwise spend that time in the hospital?”
Keeping patients where they want to be
Theresa’s experience reflects a broader shift in how care is delivered at Tufts Medicine—one that prioritizes access, efficiency and patient experience without compromising safety.
“We are constantly looking to evolve and innovate to meet the patient where they are,” said Dr. Harvey. “Our goal is to have every patient feel like they are treated like a VIP—Very Important Patient.”
For Theresa, NAVIGATE meant more than avoiding a hospital stay. It meant being home for Thanksgiving.
And for Tufts Medicine, it’s a powerful example of how reimagining care pathways can make all the difference.
Ready to experience patient-centered care that keeps you where you want to be? Request an appointment with Tufts Medicine today.
