Local Fire Departments team up with King County EMS to provide community medical technicians

Shoreline Fire Department, Bothell Fire and E.M.S, and Woodinville Fire and Rescue are partnering with King County EMS in a two-year Community Medical Technician (CMT) pilot program.

The hope is that this new program will prioritize true emergencies and provide better care for those patients who need help, but don't necessarily require a trip to the ER.

The CMT pilot, which began October 2015, utilizes a crew of two firefighter / EMTs who are dispatched to a patient who is requesting assistance through the 9-1-1 system, but who may not necessarily need a full emergency medical response.

You may see them around town in a special CMT rig, or receive their services on these so-called low acuity calls.

The firefighters working on the CMT unit are specially trained to identify patients who can be better served by social service assistance or other local resources.

With funding and program guidance from King County EMS, the CMT pilot allows fire departments like Shoreline, Bothell and Woodinville to create a community-focused program to try to connect residents and families with help and resources.

Fire departments receive hundreds of 9-1-1 calls per year that are not medical or fire emergencies.

The CMT pilot program is meant to provide a cost and resource-efficient alternative to the typical non-emergency response calls, while also increasing options for assisting patients.

The CMT unit serves the communities of Bothell, Shoreline and Woodinville and is one of three pilot programs in King County.

If you'd like to know more about the CMT program, contact Michelle Pidduck (206) 533-6564.