By Tyler Silvy

Greeley Tribune

GREELEY, Colo. — A spike in Greeley 911 calls lasting more than a decade has drained resources drastically, yielding a months-long experiment that has already saved thousands of dollars and one city officials believe could save millions if implemented full-time.

Using employees from North Colorado Health Alliance and North Range Behavioral Health, as well as Greeley Fire Department and Greeley Police Department personnel, Greeley dedicated about 72 hours to a so-called "action lab," a suburban utility vehicle that responded to not-so-emergency emergencies.

The goal: Stop sending huge fire trucks to smaller calls, and have qualified people, on site, to advise potential patients and guide them to services more efficiently.

As an added bonus, mental health specialists have followed up with 125 residents identified as "frequent fliers," or residents who have accounted for more than 1,000 911 calls in the past year. That work has decreased calls from those folks by 70 percent, according to data discussed Tuesday during a Greeley City Council work session.

"It's really made a significant difference on our 911 calls," Greeley Fire Department Emergency Medical Services Coordinator Jeff Stranahan said. "We're down about 200 calls this year. We can't absolutely tie it to this, but our crews (notice it)."

Funding for the proposed expansion of the program will have to wait, as Mayor Tom Norton and other council members wanted more data before giving a nod of approval to continue the program.

The program dealt with members of Greeley's homeless community, people suffering chronic alcoholism and mental health issues, and officials, including those from North Colorado Health Alliance, say the method not only reduces 911 calls in the future, but can help patients change their lives.

Nearly all parties found cost savings.

City officials estimate $12,000 in cost savings for the city and the Department of Human Services, and estimate more than $100,000 in savings if the program was around for an entire year. The program started in October 2016.

The experiment also found cost savings for the patient through alternative destinations (other than the hospital) or immediate initiation of care on scene, or through referring the patient to the appropriate care at the time, according to the report. Those interventions, based on data from five frequent 911 callers and depending on patients' medical insurance type, could save patients between $855,000 and $105,000.

Further, responding in an SUV, rather than a fire engine, saves money on gas, as well as wear and tear on the vehicle. Officials estimate having a full-time action lab-type vehicle staffed and ready 40 hours per week would save 650 fire engine or ambulance responses per year.

All told, officials estimate cost savings in the millions of dollars per year, according to the report.

Greeley City Council members expressed support for the program, particularly Mayor Pro Tem John Gates, a former police officer who is well aware of dealing with non-emergency, mental health calls.

Still, expanding the service will require a city investment of more than $20,000 this year and an estimated $85,000 next year, and that doesn't exactly sit well with Norton.

"You're asking for more money to implement a program we should be able to do with less money," Norton said. "You talked about this being great and wonderful, all of those things say we're saving money. If that's the case, then where in the hell is the money?"

One answer might be that the Greeley Fire Department committed about 170 hours to the program, and cost savings estimates are based on the idea that, during the same time frame, with a full-time person, that person would serve nearly 1,500 hours.

The new method comes in response to a national trend of increasing 911 calls, and it follows closely a model employed in Colorado Springs. Fort Collins and Boulder are working to implement similar programs also.

Today, Greeley's team operates out of a 2000 Chevy Suburban, and is hopeful to get an ambulance or another vehicle.

Copyright 2017 Greeley Tribune

All Rights Reserved