Pawtucket implementing mobile health program
Thu, July 23, 2026 at 5:34 PM
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Pawtucket Fire Department. (WJAR)
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WJAR) —The City of Pawtucket announced it would be implementing a Mobile Integrated Health Program next month, which would send EMS and firefighters to do check-ins in the community outside of typical 911 emergency calls
“What we’re hoping to do is get them the help before they need to call us,” said Pawtucket Fire Chief John Trenteseaux
The visits are set to start at Pawtucket’s elderly housing complexes, where Trenteseaux said a significant portion of the city’s 9-1-1 calls originate
Maddie Heimsch reports on a new health initiative in Pawtucket. (WJAR)
Responders will check patients’ vitals and medication statuses and check their surroundings for fall hazards
“We have a lot of patients that will call for the same issue over and over again. So we’re hoping to be able to reduce the amount of times they call us with simple fixes,” said Trenteseaux
According to the chief, the department responds to about 15,000 EMS calls each year
Towns which have established a mobile health program. (WJAR)
The program has already been established in Smithfield, West Warwick, Narragansett, Charlestown, Westerly, Prudence Island, South Kingstown, Cumberland, Providence, and Bristol
It’s also active through the Coastal Medical Transportation Systems and Professional Ambulance, which serve across Rhode Island
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Pawtucket Public Safety Director Tina Goncalves said the upfront cost for Pawtucket was $600,000, paid for through grants from Care New England
“The second year is when it will cost the city, and that will be based on how many times per week we go out, at the firefighters’ salaries,” said Goncalves
The initial funds were used to purchase a rescue vehicle, an SUV and first-year staffing for firefighters and a medical director
“To see how long we can keep this program will be… you know, it’s a cost factor,” she said
The program has been in the works in Pawtucket for seven years. City leaders said contract negotiations with the local firefighters union were ongoing during that time
The program is set to launch Aug. 4
