Health Care Innovation Awards: Regional Emergency Medical Services Project Profile

Project Title: "REMSA Community Health Early Intervention Team (CHIT)"
Geographic Reach: Nevada
Funding Amount: $9,872,988
Estimated 3-Year Savings: $10,500,000

Summary

The Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority's (REMSA) Community Health Programs (CHP) are creating new care and referral pathways which ensure patients who have entered the 9-1-1 emergency medical services system with urgent low acuity medical conditions receive the safest, and most appropriate, levels of quality care. In addition, post-discharge patients with conditions such as congestive heart failure will receive in-home follow-up care. The Nurse Health Line provides 24/7 assessment, clinical education, triage and referral to health care and community services via a non-emergency nurse health line available to all Washoe County residents regardless of insurance status. Community Health Paramedics are specially trained to perform in-home delegated tasks to improve the transition of care from hospital to home, perform point of care lab tests and improve care plan adherence. The Ambulance Transport Alternatives program provides alternative pathways of care for 9-1-1 patients, including transport of patients with low acuity medical conditions to urgent care centers and clinics, transport of inebriated patients directly to the detoxification center, and transport of psychiatric patients directly to the mental health hospital. In cooperation with the community's health care partners, these programs will safely improve patient-centered care, reduce ambulance transports, reduce emergency department visits, reduce hospital readmissions, improve patient satisfaction and reduce overall health care costs. The Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority (REMSA) of Reno, Nevada, is a non-profit provider of emergency and non-emergency paramedic ambulance services.

Return to the Project Profiles main page.