San Jose Firefighters Now Make Follow-Up Visits to Frequent 911 Callers Under a New Pilot

Some San Jose paramedics are now doing something other than racing to emergencies. The San Jose Fire Department's new Mobile Care Unit began working on Oct. 1 as part of a six-month Community Paramedicine Pilot Program that runs through March 31, 2027, the city announced.

Who it is for

The team is made up of specially trained paramedics who provide follow-up care and link people to services in their homes and neighborhoods. The city says it is aimed at residents whose needs are not fully met by a standard 911 response, including people who call 911 frequently, people dealing with behavioral health or substance use problems, and unhoused residents. The unit can connect them with primary care, mental health and addiction treatment, housing and other social services.

Fire Chief Robert Sapien described the goal to San José Spotlight in July as helping people "get out of the cycle of really high-cost services that don't give them what they ultimately need." Backers argued that standard paramedic crews are not set up to fix the problems behind repeat calls, which can leave patients cycling between the emergency room, the street and jail.

Where and when

For now the unit covers downtown San Jose and the areas served by Fire Stations 1, 3, 8, 26, 30 and 34. It works Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. People don't call the unit directly. Visits start through referrals, including from fire crews after an emergency call.

Taking part is voluntary, and the city says residents can decline or drop out at any time without affecting their access to 911 or emergency care. Anyone with an emergency should still call 911.

How it is paid for

The City Council approved the pilot in its latest budget. EMS1 reported that the $764,000 program is funded through the city's opioid lawsuit settlement and covers three positions, new equipment and a fire captain to design and oversee it. Santa Clara County has run related efforts, including a nurse navigator program that the county estimated saved patients $400,000 during its pilot phase, according to San José Spotlight.