GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A new six-month pilot program was launched Tuesday to help reduce the number of emergency room visits and better coordinate emergency response in Grand Rapids.
The program launched by the Grand Rapids Fire Department and Corewell Health will integrate a full-time community health worker into emergency response.
Fire Chief Brad Brown told News 8 that they respond to about 17,000 medical calls a year, about 80 a day. Of those calls, he said around 5% are repeat 911 callers with some sort of chronic illness or other concern. For most 911 calls, a fire truck, EMS and sometimes police respond, Brown said. But, often times, that is not always needed or what is best for the patient…