What is mobile integrated healthcare?

"Mobile integrated healthcare" uses patient-centered, mobile out-of-hospital resources in a coordinated manner with physicians, hospitals, and other providers.  It encompasses a myriad of potential expanded roles for EMTs, paramedics, and EMS systems, as well as collaborations with other types of providers, to provide higher quality patient-centered care and helping to prevent emergencies before they begin.

Why now?

• Out-of-hospital care systems (e.g. EMS) are increasingly sophisticated and capable of providing a wide variety of treatments.
• Telemedicine capabilities are robust, widely available and increasingly affordable.
• Health care delivery system reform is gaining momentum.  Organizations are seeking innovative care models to improve health, improve quality and lower cost.
• The most vulnerable patients are already being transported by EMS.

Why should EMS be involved?

• Current role of EMS is limited to transporting all patients to emergency departments.
• Significant percentage of EMS calls and ED visits are for non-urgent conditions.
• This paradigm is costly to healthcare systems and not patient-centered.
• Health systems are facing new incentives to reduce admissions for ambulatory sensitive conditions through coordination of care as a part of health care reform.

Why New York?

• Reduce the strain on EMS and ED resources.
• Improve the quality and coordination of care provided to the public.
• Fill some of the gaps in the existing healthcare system and prevent readmissions.
• Increase the value that Out-of-Hospital Care (EMS) provides to society.​