A Los Angeles County Fire Department program is seeking to ease strained ER resources by allowing its workers to connect mildly-ill people with nurses via teleconference, officials announced Friday.
Under the new Telemedicine Program, firefighters or paramedics who are treating a person with symptoms like a fever or bad cough can video call a nurse or nurse practitioner for evaluation rather than sending the patient to the emergency room. They can also video call with an emergency physician, if necessary.
Officials have sought creative ways to relieve the burden on hospitals caused by the coronavirus, with hotels, event centers and ships being used as medical facilities. The Telemedicine Program has a similar goal, according to a statement from the department.