Ambulance image by Camilo Jiminez on unsplash.com

The Fresno County Department of Public Health announced Friday it has reimplemented its assess and refer policy in the hopes of slowing the surge of non-emergency patients at area hospitals.

As part of the policy, emergency medical responders will first assess patients they encounter. If it is determined that the patient is stable and does not require emergency transport, ambulance personnel will provide an alternate recommendation and not transport the patient by ambulance.

“The County has implemented the Assess and Refer Policy to slow down the surge of non-emergency patients at hospital emergency departments,” said Dan Lynch, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director.

The department encourages selective use of EMS for life or limb-threatening emergencies, and advises the public to seek assistance from primary care physicians, urgent care clinics or telehealth alternatives for non-emergencies.

With a surge in respiratory illnesses, the department encourages residents to prepare for the holiday season by receiving their COVID-19, influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory illnesses by getting vaccinated and taking preventative steps to maintain good health.

The department stressed the importance of preventative measures to help slow the spread of respiratory viruses, recommending residents stay up to date on their COVID-19 and flu vaccines. The department also recommends residents aged 60 and older consult their health care provider to see if they are eligible for the RSV vaccine.

Pregnant individuals between 32 and 36 are also recommended to consider vaccination between September and January. Immunizations are also available for infants 8 months and younger, and high-risk children between 8 and 19 months.

COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines are all safe to be administered during the same visit. The department encourages individuals to visit http://myturn.ca.gov to schedule vaccine appointments. COVID-19 and flu vaccines continue to be free for most through health insurance plans, including Medi-Cal.

Additionally, the CDC’s Bridge Access Program provides free COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults through December 2024, and the federally-funded Vaccines for Children program provides vaccines at no cost to children.