News and Updates

Please join us in congratulating Washoe County, Nevada for winning the Excellence in EMS Integration Award from AIMHI Academy of International Mobile Healthcare Integration.

This award recognizes a non-EMS organization that has developed and implemented a partnership with EMS organizations that have demonstrated enhancement of patient experience of care, improved patient outcomes, or reduced the cost of healthcare.

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in northern Nevada, Washoe County municipal leaders identified the critical and immediate need to launch a resource that would connect residents to accurate information, provide answers to questions and triage callers concerned about possible COVID-19 symptoms. The County already had in place a 24/7 telephone line (311) for residents seeking information about non-emergency government matters. However, that line was quickly overwhelmed and not able to fully meet the needs of the callers.

Washoe County manager Eric Brown reached out to REMSA Health, seeking assistance. Recognizing REMSA Health’s experience and expertise as an internationally accredited medical dispatch center, Washoe County asked REMSA Health to stand-up a 24/7 call center for residents to have their symptoms triaged and to facilitate testing and contact tracing. The request came on a Saturday and by Thursday – just five days later – the triage line was staffed and active.