The Houston Fire Department has taken a new approach to handling non-emergency medical calls, aiming to reduce the strain on emergency rooms and provide more efficient care. According to an article from NPR.com, firefighters often respond to situations that aren’t true emergencies. But when they’re out on a call, another urgent request might come in—like a shooting or a cardiac arrest—forcing them to wait for ambulances from further away, which can delay critical care.
On a rainy morning, firefighter Tyler Hooper drove through the rain to check on Susan Carrington, 56, who was experiencing difficulty breathing and a persistent cough. She had no regular doctor and called 911 out of fear. Hooper, trained as an EMT and advanced paramedic, assessed her condition and found her vitals stable. Instead of rushing her to the ER, he used a video chat app to connect her with Dr. Kenneth Margolis, located at the city’s emergency dispatch center.
Through the tablet, Margolis spoke directly with Carrington, reviewed her symptoms, and determined that an ER visit wasn’t necessary. He arranged for a free cab ride to a nearby clinic the next day, saving her from an unnecessary trip to the emergency room. This is part of **Project Ethan**, a telehealth initiative launched across all Houston firehouses in mid-December.
Dr. Michael Gonzalez, director of the project and an emergency medicine professor at Baylor College of Medicine, says the goal is to redirect patients like Carrington to primary care clinics instead of ERs. Ambulances are often tied up with paperwork or waiting for admission, which delays care for those in real need. By sending some patients to clinics, ambulances stay available, and ERs can focus on urgent cases.
The program also includes follow-ups with patients to address underlying issues that lead to inappropriate 911 use. While the project costs over $1 million annually, Gonzalez believes it will save the region significant money in the long run. A 2011 study showed that 40% of ER visits in Houston were for primary care-related issues, costing up to $1,200 per visit compared to just $262 in outpatient clinics. If all those visits could be redirected, the savings would exceed $2 million.
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