Beverly Hills, Calif., is adding nurse practitioners to the city's paramedic crews as part of a one-year program to help reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, reports ABC 7 Eyewitness News.
Paramedics who respond to 911 calls will evaluate patients on the scene and determine whether they need to go to the ER. If they do not, paramedics can call the nurse practitioner unit to treat the patient on the scene.
Noncritical patients will also receive follow-up visits from the NP to help reduce repeat 911 calls.