Clackamas County has stepped up its game in the healthcare department by rolling out an innovative Nurse Navigation Program, a collaborative move made together with American Medical Response (AMR). Announced to start on September 17, this initiative aims to streamline how 911 callers in Clackamas County tap into medical care, as reported by the county's official news release.
The new program acts as a bridge, connecting callers and medical services to ensure that they find the right level of care, at the right time, and in the right place. If the situation isn't deemed an emergency, callers may be transferred to a nurse navigator who will carve out an appropriate treatment path and offer needed assistance to access care, as stated by Clackamas County. A special boon for the caller is the absence of any cost to utilize the nurse navigation service.
Claiming the current EMS system is "overburdened," Clackamas County Office of Public Health Emergency Services Manager Bill Conway revealed the pressing need for a redirection of non-emergency medical calls. "The Nurse Navigation Program will provide the appropriate care for these requests, leaving 911 ambulances available to respond to life-threatening emergencies," Conway told the county news release.
These nurse navigators are not just any nurses; they come equipped with Oregon state licenses and emergency nursing experience, topped with special training in triage. Post-triage, these nurses have the authority to connect individuals to local clinics and can take steps to ensure transportation, in addition to hooking up callers with telehealth physicians if needed. Clackamas County's Ben West expressed his excitement, stating, "Clackamas County residents can trust that when they call 911, they will be connected with the care they need."
For those encountering the most severe medical crises, nothing changes – an ambulance remains on standby for urgent life threats. But with Clackamas County joining the ranks of 22 other U.S. localities, including their Pacific Northwest neighbor, Vancouver, Wash., they're ensuring that every call for help receives a bespoke response – one that optimizes care and unburdens the stretched-thin emergency systems.
