COLUMBUS, Ohio — Local officials announced a new emergency response initiative on Monday designed to direct non-urgent 911 calls away from emergency rooms and toward medical nurses.

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The initiative, known as the Nurse Health Care Navigation Line, operates through a partnership with Crosswalk Health. Under the program, 911 dispatchers can transfer individuals reporting non-life-threatening medical issues to nurses who assess their needs. Callers can then be connected to primary care providers, urgent care centers, telehealth appointments, pharmacy services, behavioral health or substance use support, transportation assistance, or self-care guidance.

City leaders emphasized that residents in need of help should continue to dial 911. However, operators now have the tools to divert less severe issues, including mild pain, minor injuries, fever, toothaches, or cold and flu symptoms.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther highlighted the range of care options available through the service.

“It could be a telehealth appointment, pharmacy services, behavioral health or substance use support, transportation assistance, or even guidance on safety caring for yourself at home,” Ginther said.

The municipal effort aims to reduce strain on emergency medical personnel. In 2024, the Columbus Division of Fire responded to nearly 145,000 emergency medical calls. City records show that almost two-thirds of those calls did not require treatment on scene or a visit to an emergency room. Additionally, among patients who received medical treatment in 2024, only 55% were transported to an emergency department.

Officials stated that shifting minor cases to nursing care will help keep emergency crews ready for critical calls across the city.

“We help keep our firefighters, paramedics and emergency vehicles available to respond to heart attacks, strokes, serious crashes, fires and other emergencies where every second matters,” Ginther said.

The Nurse Health Care Navigation Line soft-launched on July 24. During that initial phase, dispatchers diverted 131 callers to the nurse line, with more than half having their medical concerns resolved without needing an ambulance ride to an emergency department.

Source: WOSU — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Columbus oo Bilowday Barnaamijka Kalkaaliyaasha 911-ka ee Aan Degdegga Ahayn

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mas’uuliyiinta magaalada Columbus ee gobolka Ohio ayaa ku dhawaaqay barnaamij cusub oo lagu magacaabo Nurse Health Care Navigation Line, kaas oo loogu talagalay in dadka soo waca nambarka degdegga ah ee 911-ka ee aan qabin xaaladaha nafta halista ku ah lala xiyo kalkaaliyaal caafimaad.

Barnaamijkan, oo ay magaaladu ka kaashanayso hay’adda Crosswalk Health, ayaa u oggolaanaya shaqaalaha ka jawaaba wcallada 911-ka inay u wareejiyaan dadka qaba xanuunada ama dhaawacyada fudud dhanka kalkaaliyaal caafimaad. Kalkaaliyaashan ayaa qiimaynaya xaaladda bukaanka, iyaga oo ku xiraya ballamaha dhanka intarneedka ah (telehealth), adeegyada farmashiyaha, taageerada caafimaad ee maanka iyo maandooriyaha, gargaarka gaadiidka, ama hagista sidii uu qofku guriga ugu daryeeli lahaa naftiisa.

Mas’uuliyiinta magaalada ayaa caddeeyay in dadweynuhu ay weli tahay inay wacaan nambarka 911-ka marka ay gargaar u baahan yihiin. Si kastaba ha ahaatee, shaqaalaha ayaa hadda haysta fursad ay ku wareejiyaan xaaladaha aan degdegga ahayn, sida xanuunka yar, dhaawacyada fudud, calaamadaha hargabka, qandhada, ama xanuunka ilbaha.

Duqa magaalada Columbus, Andrew Ginther, ayaa tilmaamay adeegyada kala duwan ee laga helayo barnaamijkan.

“Wuxuu noqon karaa ballan dhanka intarneedka ah, adeegyada farmashiyaha, taageerada caafimaad ee maanka ama maandooriyaha, gargaarka gaadiidka, ama xitaa hagitaan ku saabsan sidii aad guriga ugu daryeeli lahayd naftaada,” ayuu yiri Duq Ginther.

Ujeeddada ugu weyn ee barnaamijkan ayaa ah in lagu dhimo culayska saaran shaqaalaha iyo gaadiidka gargaarka degdegga ah. Sanadkii 2024, waaxda dab-demiska ee Columbus Division of Fire ayaa ka jawaabtay ku dhowaad 145,000 oo wcallo oo gargaar caafimaad ah. Xogta magaalada ayaa muujinaysa in ku dhowaad laba meelood saddex meel oo wcalladaas ka mid ah aysan u baahnayn daryeel caafimaad oo lagu bixiyo goobta ama in qofka loo kaxeeyo qeybta gargaarka degdegga ah ee isbitaalka. Sidoo kale, bukaannadii helay daryeelka sanadkaas 2024, oo keliya 55% ayaa loo qaaday qeybta gargaarka degdegga ah.

Duq Ginther ayaa sheegay in wareejinta wcalladaas ay ka caawin doonto in gaadiidka iyo shaqaalaha gargaarka ay diyaar u noqdaan xaaladaha halista ah ee ilbiriqsi kasta uu muhiim yahay.

“Waxay inaga caawinaysaa inaan ka dhigno dab-demiskayada, gargaarayaasha degdegga ah iyo gaadiidka gargaarka kuwo diyaar u ah inay ka jawaabaan xanuunada wadne-qabadka, faalajka, shilalka culus, dabka iyo xaaladaha kale ee degdegga ah ee ilbiriqsi kasta uu leeyahay qiimo,” ayuu yiri Ginther.

Barnaamijka Nurse Health Care Navigation Line ayaa si kumeel-gaar ah oo tijaabo ah u bilaawday July 24. Intii lagu jiray muddadaas tijaabada ahayd, shaqaalaha 911-ka waxay kalkaaliyaasha u wareejiyeen 131 wcallo, iyadoo ka badan helkeedii laga jawaabay xaaladahooda caafimaad iyadoo aan loo baahnayn in ambalaas loogu qaado qeybta gargaarka degdegga ah.

Xigasho: WOSU