VIDEO: The Tucson Fire Department is partnering with the Public Safety Communications Department and MD Ally Telehealth to implement telehealth within the 911 system.
That means someone calling 911 for an injury or illness may be asked if they want to be connected with a doctor.
The Tucson Fire Department said it saw more than 103,000 911 calls last year, which is 30,000 more than two decades ago.
“That’s a 48% increase over the last 20 years,” said Deputy Chief at the Tucson Police Department Baker Barrett. “But the hospitals have not grown across the City of Tucson by 48%. The Fire Department has not grown by 48%. The Communications Department has not grown by 48%.”
86% of those 103,000 calls were medical and, in many cases, callers didn’t need a team of firefighters or paramedics to respond.