County partners with AMR to launch healthcare solution

Milam County officials, in collaboration with American Medical Response, have announced an innovative program to help Milam County residents and visitors quickly reach the most appropriate level of care. 

The Nurse Navigation Program, which launched provides citizens access to a wider variety of care options to meet their specific medical needs, which may include a virtual visit with a physician.

Through Milam County’s Nurse Navigation program, some 911 calls with non-emergency injuries or illnesses will be transferred to a registered nurse. The nurse will assess a patient’s symptoms and refer them to the most appropriate medical care that could include a virtual visit with a board-certified emergency physician, or transport to a local hospital.

Milam County Judge Steve Young said he hopes the innovative Nurse Navigation Program will free up ambulances throughout the county, so more ambulances, EMTs and paramedics are available to respond to emergency 911 calls.

“Sometimes, Milam County residents may be able to resolve their needs by speaking with a nurse, or visiting with a physician over a video chat on their phone,” Young said.  

“We are proud of our long-term partnership with Milam County to help people get the right care at the right time, and we are excited to leverage our national expertise and integrated healthcare solutions to expand access to care, improve patient experience and increase population health throughout the region,” said Heath Wright, Regional Director for AMR in Central Texas. “The Nurse Navigation program will allow us to better serve the residents of Milam County by ensuring that callers with lower acuity complaints are presented with more innovative paths to treatment that are often closer to home, where medical treatment can be received faster than a visit to a hospital emergency department.”

With 911 contracts nationwide, AMR has the employee base, resources and experience to provide the necessary and immediate assistance that alleviates the pressure on EMS systems and enhances their ability to care for their community. These integrated solutions have been effective in improving outcomes and unit availability, as well as educating communities on the appropriate use of 911. The result – a more functional system that enables local fire agencies and EMS to focus on providing timely, appropriate and high-quality patient care while controlling costs and improving outcomes.

The Nurse Navigation Program will soon launch in Milam County. 

American Medical Response, Inc., America’s leading provider of medical transportation, provides services in 40 states and the District of Columbia. More than 28,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals work together to transport more than 4.8 million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. AMR also provides fire services through Rural Metro Fire Department, www.ruralmetrofire.com. 

For more information about AMR, visit www.amr.net and follow American Medical Response on Facebook @AMR_Social on Twitter and Instagram.