#USA #AltaPointe Health #Mobile, Alabama #MyCare Technologies #Mobile Police

AltaPointe Health's iPad Pilot Program

In an innovative effort to address the persistent issue of non-emergency 911 calls, AltaPointe Health has launched a pilot program in collaboration with MyCare Technologies, the Mobile Police Department, and Mobile Fire-Rescue. This new initiative seeks to improve access to behavioral healthcare for individuals in crisis, while also mitigating the burden on emergency services.

A Visionary Approach

The pilot program introduces iPads to the top 50 frequent 911 callers—those identified as high utilizers of emergency services due to non-medical concerns. For years, Mobile police officers have deployed iPads in the field to provide immediate contact between citizens experiencing behavioral health crises and clinicians from AltaPointe. By placing these devices directly in the hands of frequent 911 callers, AltaPointe aims to offer round-the-clock access to mental health support from trained professionals.

Dr. Cindy Gipson, AltaPointe Health’s Director of Crisis and Justice-Involved Services, explained, "MyCare Technologies approached us with the idea of expanding the iPad initiative, assessing how effective this technology can be when directly provided to individuals who often depend on 911 for non-critical needs." Notably, this program incurs no costs for the city or taxpayers, potentially saving significant public resources while enhancing care for vulnerable residents.

Tackling Community Challenges

Frequent 911 calls place considerable strain on public safety resources. According to interim Mobile Fire-Rescue Chief Barry Glisson, there’s a mental and operational fatigue that arises from repeatedly responding to the same patients. He emphasized that such calls can siphon resources away from other residents in genuine need of emergency assistance.

Last year alone, the city incurred costs exceeding $1 million for transporting 70 patients to hospitals ten or more times, with only a small portion recouped through insurance. This alarming statistic highlights the critical need for a solution that connects these individuals to appropriate care rather than emergency services.

Innovative Connections

The MyCare iPads are tailored to run a single, secured application that connects users to AltaPointe clinicians or peer specialists for real-time video consultations. In many cases, the problems these individuals face can be non-emergency in nature, such as insufficient food or lack of a safe sleeping environment. According to Dr. Gipson, “For someone struggling to think coherently on a day-to-day basis, such concerns represent a crisis.” The iPads allow for immediate intervention without dispatching emergency vehicles, thus conserving resources.

Looking Ahead: A Collaborative Solution

Spanning six months, the pilot program will be fully funded and operated by MyCare Technologies, sparing taxpayers any financial burden. Over this period, AltaPointe and its city partners will gather and evaluate data to assess the effectiveness of the initiative in reducing 911 call volumes, emergency transports, and related costs.

Dr. Gipson added, “Our hope is that this initiative will evolve into a long-lasting, cost-saving measure, providing a lifeline for individuals in crisis. Our goal is to deliver the right kind of help to the right people at the right time.”

About AltaPointe Health

AltaPointe Health serves as a comprehensive healthcare system focused on behavioral and primary healthcare, delivering over 1 million services to approximately 45,000 patients annually across Alabama. As a leader in behavioral health with more than six decades of experience, AltaPointe expanded its services in 2018 to include primary care, emphasizing holistic patient health. The organization operates multiple facilities, including two psychiatric hospitals and a crisis center, reinforcing its commitment to community health and wellness.