Huron Valley Ambulance
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September 21, 2010
Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County partners with HVA to reduce non-emergency 9-1-1 calls.
Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County (CSSW) is partnering with Huron Valley Ambulance (HVA) to reduce the number of repetitive non-emergency calls to 9-1-1 by residents who feel they have no where else to turn for assistance. The pilot project is funded by a $30,000 HVA Board of Trustees grant to CSSW providing case management intervention for individuals accessing 9-1-1 for non-crisis situations.
The reason behind the chronic calling is "because some need - mental,
physical or social - is not being met," says Barbara Elliott, CSSW case
manager. "This program identifies the people with multiple needs who
are falling between the cracks. It is invaluable to those who before
were going unnoticed."
Repeat callers to HVA may be intoxicated, struggling with mental illness, or
simply lonely; others are homeless and hungry, knowing that a trip to
the hospital will afford them a hot meal. Challenged by "revolving
door" patients, first responders worry that non-crisis requests may delay
the response time to true emergencies.
In addition, providing hands-on services reduces costs for local fire departments and mitigates the need for high risk residents to reach for the phone in a moment of panic - a win-win solution for all involved. Since the project began earlier this year, non-emergency requests have decreased and patients are finding other ways to deal with their problems.
"It means a lot to them (patients) to have someone on their side," Elliott notes. "They learn that having paramedics and firefighters show up over and over is not the best way to get help. It seems to foster a sense of accountability."