New Teller Nurse Triage set to help navigate health care needs
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)--A new Teller County nurse triage line is helping provide patients calling 9-1-1 with more access to care.
The new Teller County nurse triage line will divide callers into 3 groups Urgent medical care, at-home and on-site services, and virtual care.
"Not everyone that calls 9-1-1 needs an ambulance ride to the hospital or is even looking for an ambulance ride to the hospital," said James McLaughlin, Community Paramedic Director for the Ute Pass Regional Health Service District.
As an emergency services expert, he knows firsthand, how difficult it can be to navigate the health care system. That leaves dozens of people calling 9-1-1 for non-life-threatening emergencies.
"This line will allow patients who are not in a life-threatening emergency to be triaged by a nurse immediately and helps us get set up with the right services," added McLaughlin.
The community paramedic vehicles provide patients with mobile at-home and onsite services like pregnancy tests, blood work, and mental health help. Allowing rural areas like teller county to better help patients despite limited resources.
"So let's work with our team the nurse navigators to better understand what the challenges are for the patient. And if an ambulance is an appropriate resource then we will send an ambulance," McLaughlin said.
The community paramedic vehicles do have a sliding scale fee for those individuals who are uninsured and a flat rate of 450 dollars for insured patients.
Currently, Teller County has three ambulances ready to go 24 hours a day. It also has a community paramedic vehicle on weekdays and two on the weekends. The new service is expected to launch on November 14th.
