HOWARD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES

Mobile Integrated Health

Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Mobile Integrated Health earns recognition for a Community Outreach program that extends the role of Fire and Rescue clinicians beyond emergency response to reach residents whose needs fall outside traditional healthcare systems. Clinicians have seen that many 911 calls are not solely medical emergencies but signals that someone is struggling with something deeper, whether chronic illness, difficulty navigating the healthcare system, food insecurity, behavioral health challenges or loneliness.

Rather than responding to such calls and moving on, the program ensures the story does not end when the ambulance leaves. The team identifies individuals who frequently call 911 or who face challenges related to chronic disease, behavioral health needs, social isolation, transportation barriers, or difficulty accessing primary care. Through home visits and ongoing engagement, clinicians assess health concerns, review medications, and help residents navigate available services, connecting them with primary care providers, behavioral health resources, community health workers, food assistance programs, and other county supports. The program also works with hospitals and healthcare partners so residents leaving the hospital have what they need to remain safely at home.

What sets this work apart is the way it unites emergency response, healthcare navigation, and social support in a coordinated effort to meet residents where they are. Fire and Rescue clinicians hold a distinct vantage point, often the first to see when someone is struggling. The program bridges traditional silos between public safety, healthcare providers, and community organizations, treating repeated calls as opportunities to address root causes rather than as system misuse.

The results have been substantial. Among enrolled clients within six months of participation, 911 calls dropped 64%, emergency department visits fell 63% and hospital admissions decreased 56%, while inpatient hospital days were reduced by more than half.

The program set out to shift from a reactive model to a proactive, community-centered approach, and in many ways that goal has been achieved, with residents connected to care and emergency services preserved for true emergencies.