In the 15 minutes after firefighters and a nurse knocked at Thelma Lee’s Maryland townhouse, they checked her blood pressure, told her what foods would keep her blood sugar from skyrocketing and set up an appointment — and a ride — to visit her primary-care physician.
They also changed the battery in her chirping fire alarm and put a scale in her bathroom so she could monitor her weight. Then they rolled out in an SUV to their next house call.
Firefighters in Prince George’s County visit or call Lee at least once a week in a county project that is part of a growing nationwide effort to rethink 911 services as a way to reduce non-emergency calls, plug gaps in health care and cut costs to taxpayers, patients and insurers.
Lee, 48, who suffers from health issues that put her at risk for stroke and other life-
threatening illnesses, had been calling 911 three times a week and heading to an emergency room almost as often.