Virtual Clinicians To Help First Responders In The Field.
>>The Broward Sheriff’s Office Department of Community Programs has established a pilot Remote Clinician Co-Responder Program designed to strengthen the response to individuals experiencing behavioral health and substance abuse crises throughout the community. This initiative builds on BSO’s co-responder program in its Department of Law Enforcement and the Real Time Crime Center’s Threat Assessment Unit.
Instead of relying solely on traditional law enforcement response, this innovative initiative combines the immediate response capabilities and public safety expertise of BSO deputies, paramedics and behavioral health clinicians to provide individuals in crisis with immediate access to professional clinical expertise—without requiring a clinician to be physically present at the scene.
Through the program, certified BSO Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) deputies along with paramedics participating in mobile integrated health programs, are equipped with secure computer tablets that provide real-time access to on-call behavioral health clinicians…