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Law‑enforcement crisis telehealth (Avail eCare) credited with reducing transports and keeping people at home
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Summary
Sheriffs and police chiefs from McKenzie County, Wahpeton and Grand Forks described how Avail eCare telehealth lets deputies connect people in crisis to clinicians by video, reducing emergency transports and freeing officers for other calls.
BISMARCK — County sheriffs and city police chiefs told the Human Resources Division that Avail eCare’s law‑enforcement crisis telehealth has reduced emergency room transports and helped officers resolve crises without lengthy removals from duty.
Why it matters: Rural law enforcement often must travel long distances for committal transports or wait in emergency rooms for psychiatric evaluation. Witnesses said telehealth allows behavioral health professionals to assess patients remotely and coordinate follow‑up services, which can reduce miles traveled and officer time out of service.
What officials said - McKenzie County Sheriff Matthew Johansen said deputies conducted 49 calls originating as suicide threats in February 2023 and that in 2023 his office completed 46 committal transports covering more than 5,000 miles; in 2024 his office completed 39 committal transports covering over 16,000 miles. He said Avail eCare, implemented March 2024 in his county, has saved “countless trips” and provides 24/7 access to behavioral health professionals who assist with de‑escalation and assessments.
- Wahpeton Chief Matthew Anderson said his department has used Avail eCare on mental‑health calls in 64% of cases where it was available and that when used, telehealth visits kept the person at home about 66% of the time. He said the program reduced transports that previously required two‑officer responses and multi‑hour absences from duty.
- Grand Forks and others noted that Avail eCare requires follow‑up coordination with human services to connect individuals to ongoing care after a telehealth assessment.
Committee context Testimony highlighted that the program is voluntary for counties and cities; some jurisdictions had only recently joined. Speakers asked the Legislature to continue funding and said the model is being adopted in other states.
Ending Officials said Avail eCare provides clinical backup for officers facing complex mental‑health encounters, reduces time‑consuming transports and offers quicker linkage to community resources. They urged continued appropriations for the program.
