CLEVELAND — A new program with Cleveland EMS has begun redirecting some 911 calls to MetroHealth. Not every call made to 911 requires emergency services to be dispatched.

Orlando Wheeler, the interim commissioner of Cleveland EMS, explained the type of frequent callers that don’t need to be connected to an emergency dispatcher. 

“People who have either chronic health conditions that need more monitoring by a primary care physician so that they can get like to a primary care physician or people that have more frequent needs for urgent care type things,” he said. 

The new program is called the “Multi-Visit Patient” program. The goal is to connect frequent Cleveland EMS callers to MetroHealth so that they can get more personalized care. Thomas Collins, the Medical Director of Cleveland’s Department of Public Safety, said this will really help patients.

“Looking at patients that might utilize health care a little more than others and seeing what can we do to help them be healthier or help them connect to the right health care that they need so they’re not necessarily having to call 911 or use the emergency department,” he said.

The program began earlier this month and has allowed Cleveland EMS to use their services in a more efficient way and has helped MetroHealth connect with patients who need them, Collins expressed.

“The real win is that these patients are healthier. That they’re feeling better connected to their health care providers and getting the care they need,” he said. 

So far, Cleveland EMS says the program has been working. They have received fewer calls from their frequent callers.