Excerpts from the OrangeCountyRegister.com:

A vague 911 call came in: a 20-year-old woman was feeling unwell and needed assistance. Responding to the scene were Anaheim firefighters, followed by an ambulance driven by Victoria Morrison, a nurse practitioner. She assessed the patient’s condition, checked her vital signs, and determined whether she needed emergency care or could be treated at home.

“Many people call 911 out of fear,” Morrison explained as she walked back to the ambulance. “Sometimes they just need a little help, and other times they really do need to go to the ER.”

Morrison is the only nurse practitioner on duty with the Anaheim Fire & Rescue’s Community Care Response Unit, which began operations on May 31. This unit handles low-acuity medical calls directly at home. Nurse practitioners are also authorized to prescribe medications.

The one-year pilot program aims to reduce healthcare costs, prevent unnecessary hospital visits, and allow firefighters to focus on more critical emergencies in Orange County’s largest city.

“We’re very good at handling traffic accidents, gunshot wounds, and heart attacks because we have clear protocols for those,” said Capt. Dave Barry, the Fire Department’s EMS manager and Morrison’s ride-along partner. “The tricky part is the low-level calls that aren’t emergencies. That’s where Victoria excels—she treats patients without sending them to the hospital.”

Since the program started, Morrison has seen 230 patients. About 46% were treated on-site or advised to see their primary care physician. The program cost around $500,000 this year, covering her salary, medicine, equipment, and insurance. It's supported by a public-private partnership, including a $210,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente and a modified ambulance from Care Ambulance Service.

Anaheim Fire Chief Randy Bruegman plans to ask the city council to extend the program next year. “Residents appreciate this alternative model—it’s high-quality care, cheaper, and it happens right in their homes,” he said.

Anaheim was the first city in California to adopt this approach, inspired by a similar initiative started in 2008 by Dr. Gary Smith during a flu outbreak in Mesa, Arizona. Though initially short-lived due to limited funding, the program was revived in 2011 with local support and now operates 24/7. Five cities across the U.S., including Los Angeles, have since adopted similar models.

“We’re pushing the boundaries of how medical care is delivered, bringing it directly to the patient’s door,” Smith said. “The results have been incredible.”

Patients who choose Morrison’s care still pay the standard $350 paramedic fee, but they avoid the much higher costs of an ambulance ride and emergency room visit, which can easily reach thousands of dollars. More importantly, they receive immediate attention from a qualified professional instead of waiting hours for a hospital doctor.

“Some people believe arriving by ambulance means faster care, but that’s not always true,” Morrison said. “I let them know I can offer the same level of service—and it’s quicker.”

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