Table of Contents:
Fighting Fires and Burnout: Bloomington’s Bold New Strategy for a Healthier City and Staff
The CORE Connection: Reviving Outreach to Save Anchorage’s Overstretched ERs
Efficiency Meets Empathy: Grand Junction’s New Strategy to Tackle Non-Emergency 911 Calls
Read Time: 3 minutes
Morale
The Bloomington Fire Department is expanding its community role by hiring two full-time health navigators to provide social service outreach to residents in need. Supported by a $200,000 grant, these navigators will assist with "wraparound" services such as fall prevention, medication management, and home safety assessments for the elderly. Internally, the department has transitioned to a "24 hours on, 72 hours off" shift model to combat burnout and promote a healthier lifestyle for firefighters. To maintain high service standards, the department has also reintroduced a requirement for new applicants to hold or be pursuing a paramedic license. Collectively, these initiatives aim to reduce the impact of emergency calls and foster a more resilient community through proactive care and better staff retention.
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Training
The Anchorage Fire Department has relaunched its "Community, Outreach, Referral and Education" (CORE) pilot program to address the rising volume of non-emergency 911 calls. By pairing a paramedic with a licensed mental health clinician, the team provides proactive home visits to "frequent callers" who often struggle with chronic medical issues, mental health crises, or substance use. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between emergency response and long-term care by helping vulnerable residents navigate the healthcare system and access services like assisted living or medication management. Originally dissolved in 2021 due to a lack of funding, the program has been revived with a $175,000 state grant to reduce the strain on emergency rooms and fire department resources. Ultimately, the CORE team seeks to treat the root causes of repeat calls, ensuring that emergency crews remain available for life-threatening situations.
Extension
The Grand Junction Fire Department is launching a Community Paramedic Program to better manage the 30% of 911 calls that are classified as non-emergencies. By adding three advanced-practice paramedic positions, the department will redirect lower-acuity and chronic medical calls to specialized responders who work under the direct supervision of a physician. This initiative allows highly trained paramedics to provide "in-home" medical care, such as medication management and chronic disease monitoring, rather than automatically transporting every patient to the hospital. The primary goal is to increase operational efficiency, ensuring that fire engines and traditional ambulances remain available for life-threatening emergencies. Ultimately, the program is designed to improve community health outcomes while generating long-term cost savings by reducing the burden on local emergency rooms.