VIDEO: Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) is addressing the issue of non-emergency 911 calls that often tie up resources needed for life-threatening situations. “We’re able to Identify these individuals because they start to become higher utilizers of the 911 system,” James Smario, EMS Chief for TVF&R said. The agency noted that the aging population in Washington County is increasingly using 911 as a primary access point for healthcare.
Smario explained, “60% of them are 60 years or older, and as we age, we start to develop chronic and long-term health conditions, and what we’re realizing is that fire engines and ladder trucks may not be the best service model to deal with those needs.” To alleviate the pressure, TVF&R has implemented two programs involving civilian nurses. The first program, active for 18 months, involves a dozen specialized paramedics with additional training. Smario said, “They end up becoming the right resource at the right time, the right staffing, and the right training to help these people navigate the resources that are out there in the community.”
This initiative allows community paramedics to respond to simple cuts or illnesses without deploying a fire truck, leading to a reduction in 911 calls. “There’s a 50% reduction with the utilization of 911. Not only that, their outcomes are improving because they are connected to the right resources,” Smario added. In turn, they said fire trucks can respond to more serious calls. The second pilot program, which began in March, allows TVF&R to use a nurse practitioner 36 hours a week to respond to calls at licensed care facilities like nursing homes.
