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Buffalo Council reviews nurse-navigation plan to reduce nonemergency 911 ambulance calls
Summary
Council members heard from Buffalo Fire Commissioner Ronaldo and Medical Director Dr. Bart about a nurse-navigation program AMR would fund to triage low-priority 911 calls; council tabled the item pending contract negotiations and a return date.
The Buffalo City Council on the floor discussed a proposal to add a nurse-navigation service to the city’s 911 triage system aimed at diverting low-priority calls from ambulances.
Council members heard the presentation from Commissioner Ronaldo of the Buffalo Fire Department and the city’s medical director, Dr. Bart, who said the program would allow lower-priority 911 calls to be routed to a nurse line that could offer self-care guidance, refer callers to primary care or urgent care, or return a caller to the 911 dispatch queue if the situation warrants an ambulance response. "If we've determined something to be a lower level priority call, depending on the volume of the city at the time, that may sit in a queue," Dr. Bart said.
Supporters said nurse navigation could reduce ambulance response times by preventing nonemergency dispatches. Commissioner Ronaldo called the program "a great benefit to the community" and said departments believe it will free up ambulance and fire resources for higher-priority emergencies. Dr. Bart described four expected outcomes: return to self-care, referral to primary care or urgent care, emergency dispatch if assessed as higher priority, and targeted mental-health referrals.
Council members asked operational and financial questions. When asked whether the program would cost the city money, Dr. Bart said the service as proposed would be paid for by AMR and "there is a cost, but it is not a cost to the city." Commissioner Ronaldo and Dr. Bart said implementation will require technical integration with county dispatch protocols and scripted medical protocols approved by local medical direction.
Council members asked about next steps. Ronaldo said negotiations with AMR were ongoing, with a target review in the week of the 24th and that city attorneys and AMR counsel would review proposed contract language. Council members indicated they would keep the item on the agenda for a future status check.
The council voted to table the matter pending completion of contract negotiations and legal review, while the administration continues talks with AMR.
The item will return to the council for follow-up once contract redlines and attorney review are complete.
