Cosumnes Fire Launches Mobile Healthcare

Residents in southern Sacramento County who have trouble accessing regular care will soon receive timely, in-home support through a mobile healthcare program designed to improve health outcomes and reduce unnecessary trips to the emergency room.

Launched by the Cosumnes Fire Department on Tuesday, August 5, the Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) Pilot Program will focus on individuals managing chronic illnesses, recovering from hospital stays, or facing barriers to traditional medical services - bringing care directly to those who need it most.

Operating three days a week, the MIH unit is staffed by a licensed Advanced Practice Provider and a Retired Annuitant Paramedic. The program extends care beyond traditional 9-1-1 responses by focusing on non-emergency, preventive, and follow-up services. Initially, the team will assist frequent 9-1-1 callers, visit individuals recently discharged from the hospital, and respond to behavioral health concerns or medical issues that can be safely managed without a trip to the emergency room.

This initiative builds on countywide efforts to improve ambulance patient offload times and emergency response efficiency. Cosumnes Fire's MIH program is the latest step in that work, aimed at delivering care directly to patients, reducing unnecessary transports and keeping emergency services available for critical calls.

"Mobile Integrated Healthcare represents the future of community-based care," said Cosumnes Fire Chief Felipe Rodríguez. "By meeting people where they are and addressing the root causes of repeated emergency calls, we're not just helping individuals, we're improving the system for everyone."

The pilot covers the Cosumnes Fire Department's 157-square-mile service area, which includes more than 214,000 residents in Elk Grove, Galt, and unincorporated areas of south Sacramento County. The all-risk, all-hazards fire department provides fire protection, emergency medical services, rescue operations, and community risk reduction across the region.

Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act with support from Sacramento County Supervisor Pat Hume, who advocated for expanding telehealth and integrated care, the pilot will run through December 31, 2025. During that time, the department will evaluate how the program operates in the field, monitor patient outcomes, and explore opportunities for future expansion.