Las Vegas Takes a New Approach to 911 Calls—Will Urgent Care Benefit?

Las Vegas is the latest municipality to recognize that not all 911 calls require response with a fully equipped ambulance and EMS crew. As part of a new pilot program by the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Department, 911 operators are being trained to identify which calls really do require a full emergency response, and which could be transferred to a specially trained nurse who can guide the patient to the right level of care—including urgent care. Patients who need to be seen right away but can’t get to a provider are being offered transportation via Lyft. Data are still being collected, so it may be a while before cost savings and patient outcomes can be quantified. If it’s deemed successful, Las Vegas says it may expand its availability, which currently is limited to 9 am to 6 pm.