Tucson Fire Department's pickup truck ...

From the Tucson Citizen: Fire Dept. providing more primary care by Eric Sagara

... Known as the alpha truck, the pickup is a relatively new unit in the department and is used to handle lower priority calls such as Berato's.

The department created the program in April 2006 because emergency rooms are not the only portion of the medical system overwhelmed by patients with nonemergency medical needs, said Norma Battaglia, a pre-hospital manager with TFD.

Fire officials estimate that 1 in every 8 calls to 911 is for a low-priority medical need. Fire officials said the department responded to about 84,000 calls last year.

The calls range from people who have fallen out of their wheelchairs or need help getting to the bathroom to those with alcohol or drug abuse problems to people who have just had surgery and need follow-up attention.

"It's been a number of years in coming, but there is virtually no after-hours medical care available to citizens," Battaglia said. "If you call any private physician you will get an after-hours recording that says 'Please contact 911 if this is an emergency.' Basically, many, many people have turned to the fire departments and to (emergency medical services) to provide basic primary care." ...

Congrats to Tucson for coming up with and actually implementing a good idea. Just don't let Bush, Cheney, The Turdblossom and all the rest hear about the program ...