The Des Moines Fire Department says the launch of Mobile Integrated Healthcare will help reduce the number of unnecessary 911 calls by addressing the needs of a small number of high-volume callers. Department data shows that 82 high-volume callers were transported to the hospital by the Fire Department 1,450 times in 2022 alone for an average of over 17 times per person. Since April, a team of paramedics has made more than 80 in-home health visits to high-volume callers and regularly visited local shelters and homeless encampments to help individuals manage their health proactively and connect with resources. “The Mobile Integrated Healthcare program provides a win-win scenario for Des Moines,” Des Moines Fire Department Chief John TeKippe said. “This program helps provide better health care outcomes for our residents, reduces the strain on our emergency response system and our firefighters, and relieves the pressure on an overburdened medical system.”