Community Health Assessment Team
From hmis
The Community Health Assessment Team (CHAT) is a Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) program that dispatches medical professionals in two-person teams to non-emergency 9-1-1 calls for health-related issues. It is run by Portland Fire & Rescue and collaborates with partners like CareOregon to provide on-site treatment and connect callers with long-term healthcare resources, aiming to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits.
What it is
Responds to non-emergency 9-1-1 calls: CHAT teams respond to low-acuity calls where a person may need immediate medical attention but doesn't require transport to the emergency room.
Provides immediate care and education: The team assesses and treats individuals in their homes, provides health education, and connects them with appropriate long-term healthcare services.
Follows up with callers: A CHAT Follow-Up Team reaches out to the individual within 24 hours to ensure they have the support and resources they need.
Aims to reduce ER visits: The program's goal is to reduce the number of people transported to emergency departments for minor issues, freeing up fire and ambulance crews for life-threatening emergencies.
Who runs it
Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R): PF&R created and runs the CHAT program as part of its Mobile-Integrated Health initiative.
Team composition: CHAT teams consist of medical professionals such as EMTs, paramedics, and registered nurses.
Community partners: The program works with various partners to provide services, including a partnership with CareOregon to help reduce emergency department visits.