A new program is underway in Oneida County. The Nurse Navigation Program diverts non-emergency calls to licensed nurses.

“911 will still treat every call as an emergency. But as you call and tell them your emergency, they’ll evaluate whether or not it needs to go to a nurse navigator or whether it needs the first response of an ambulance, an EMT, a fire responder," said Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente.

County staff said 911 calls with non-emergency injuries or illnesses may be transferred to a nurse navigator.

The navigator, based in Texas, can provide advice and refer callers for any additional medical care, which may mean needing to set up a tele-health meeting or ride to a local clinic. The county will foot the bill for a ride.

The hope is that the county will actually save money by, in part, cutting back on ER visits paid for by Medicaid.

“We anticipate to see a decrease in patients having to go to the emergency department. So hopefully, that's going to decrease the expenses as far as an ambulance and an emergency department expenses and having patients go into those alternate care locations," said Oneida County EMS coordinator James Monahan. 

“Number one, they are getting better care because they're getting to the right resource at the right time, and they're getting transportation. And so their overall health care costs are reduced, as well as the community's overall health overall health care costs," said Global Medical Response Director of Nurse Navigation Services Lisa Edmondson.

It’s not just about saving money, though. The program helps lift the weight off of already-busy dispatchers, first responders and hospital staff, while still providing patients with the care they need, supporters say.

“We're hoping that we're going to have a win-win with this to help decrease the amount of visits into the EDs, where they can concentrate on the acutely ill patients, but also get these patients seen and get the services that they need to be able to get back home to their residences," Monahan said.

Oneida County staff say 3,775 of Oneida County’s 24,000-plus medical-related 911 calls last year were considered non-emergent.

Monahan said Onondaga and Monroe counties also use the program.