• City of Tacoma QA
  • City of Tacoma OpenData




TFD Cares

TFD CARES - Community Assistance Referral and Education Service

TFD CARES

The City of Tacoma (COT) Fire Department serves the community in both emergency and non-emergency medical service capacities. Starting in 2012, the COT Fire Department started providing non-emergency medical services to assist community members beyond a traditional 911 emergency medical service (EMS) call.

 

It is an expanded fire department-based service supported by Washington State Legislation (RCW 35.21.930). The COT Fire Department provides CARES services to ensure public safety and is a long term strategic initiative for the department. The CARES Program is available to those residing in Tacoma, Fife, and Fircrest. 

 

Most referrals to the CARES Program are made internally by first responders. Common referrals include complex medical needs (3 or more chronic illnesses), complex psychiatric needs, limited social support (homeless, caregiving, and loneliness), and substance use support and barriers. 

 

What does TFD CARES do? 

  • Works with individuals who frequently call 911-EMS: CARES can help navigate these patients to appropriate levels of care and services so that can improve their health and remain safe in their home, not relying on 911-EMS for non-emergent medical needs. 
  • CARES is a non-traditional team working within the community including on the street, private residences, emergency departments, and by phone.
  • Continuous collaboration with community partners in the health care and social service systems to connect care at the right time, to the right place. 

 

Case Management

The COT Fire Department recognizes a person’s need for medical help can extend beyond a 911-emergency medical response and sometimes that need can perpetuate over-use of 911 emergency services. Over-use of 911 EMS by individuals, agencies, and multi-family addresses can have a major impact on emergency response times throughout the entire community.

 

COT Fire Department non-emergency medical services work to educate on the appropriate use of 911-EMS, mitigate over-use of the 911-EMS system, and assist people in obtaining appropriate medical resources and services. A priority for the department is to ensure community members stay safe and healthy in their homes and in the community.

 

The Case Management Team includes registered nurses, social workers and non-clinical staff who provide expertise in all aspects of complex care. Staff assists individuals in making healthy choices and connecting with needed health services. Health services include physical health (chronic illnesses, etc.), mental health and wellbeing, chemical dependency (opioid, alcohol, etc.), and social services (food, transportation).

 

2021 case management

 

Opioid Treatment / Safe Station

Opioid Treatment / Safe Station

In 2019, TFD’s Safe Station program was implemented at Fire Station 1 (901 S Fawcett AVE) to offer community members a safe place to ask for help with an opioid use disorder. The CARES Behavioral Team will respond to Station 1 and provide support and treatment to anyone asking for help.

 

Please see the City of Tacoma - Opioid Response Plan for more details. 

 

Additional Services & Partnerships

Education 

In addition to one-to-one directed services, CARES also partners with local facilities to address population overuse of 911-EMS.

  • Partner with multi-family addresses to generate strategies to assist residents with health and social needs.

     

  • Partner with local community health and social services to support community-wide efforts to ensure the safety of our citizens and improve the health of our community.

     

  • Partner with high-risk clients that are moved from state facilities back to the community.

     

  • Ongoing collaboration with local long-term adult care facilities to safely address the needs of adults living at the facility or staff supporting clients. 

University Partnership 2014-2022 158 students, 9,345 hours worked, 10,064 community members assisted, 20 projects completed

 

University Partnership

Students gain experience through opportunities to innovatively impact community health through the implementation of various projects to disseminate critical public health information. University partners include:

  1. Seattle University
  2. University of Washington Tacoma
  3. Pacific Lutheran University
  4. Individual internship inquiries are also supported

Resources

If not 911 EMS, then who should I contact?

 

Make the Right Call

 

Behavioral Health Crisis Services

Pierce County Crisis Line

1 (800) 576-7764

 

Non-emergent Medical Transportation

AMR   

(206) 444-4444

 

NW Ambulance

(425) 328-7651

 

Transpro/Around the Sound

(253) 858-7088

 

Paratransit

1 (800) 925- 5438

 

211

 

Tacoma Transportation

 

In-Home Urgent Care/ Walk-in Clinics

Dispatch Health

(253) 652-0065

 

Franciscan Prompt Care

(253) 428-2200

 

Multicare Indigo Urgent Care

(253) 301-6975 – James Center

(253) 533-6770 – Point Ruston

 

Behavioral Health

 

PC Resident with Medicaid

 


Medicare

Private Insurance



]]>