Who
- Stanislaus County Emergency Medical Services Agency
- Emergency medical services (EMS) providers, including American Medical Response and local fire departments
What
The California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) recently approved the Stanislaus County Emergency Medical Services Agency’s Triage to Alternate Destination protocol, which will authorize EMS providers to bypass acute hospitals and deliver patients directly to mental health or substance use disorder treatment facilities — once these alternate destinations are identified and under contract.
Patterned closely on Sacramento County’s program, Stanislaus County’s initiative is intended to improve behavioral health care and mitigate emergency department crowding.
Takeaway/Next Steps
Stanislaus County is working to identify appropriate mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities as alternate destinations.
Contact
RVP Brian Jensen at bjensen@hospitalcouncil.org