The Des Moines Fire Department is eyeing a fresh approach that could cut back on the number of nonemergency calls to 911 by addressing the health needs of the city’s most frequent ambulance users.
It plans to implement what it’s calling a Mobile Integrated Healthcare program that would provide personal health services to 911’s “high-volume users” — those who call for help the most.
Fire Department Assistant Chief Percy Coleman said the program will help treat the core issues of some of the city’s most vulnerable patients instead of just transporting them to the emergency room. The department is looking to conduct a trial run of the program starting in late spring, with its sights set on turning it into a permanent program.
Fire officials hope the program can reduce medical calls to 911 after a record-breaking year in 2023.
Here’s what you need to know about the program.
How often do people call 911 in Des Moines?
Fire officials reviewing data from 2022 found that about 90 people called 911 for medical-related issues 10 times or more. One person called 87 times.