The collaboration between AMR and the Metro Drug Coalition aims to reduce response times in Knox County

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – A new initiative from American Medical Response (AMR) and the Metro Drug Coalition (MDC) aims to reduce emergency response times in the Knoxville area.

AMR, which provides emergency medical services to Knox County, is joining forces with MDC to form the Mission District Medical Team. The team, comprised of regional MDC overdose prevention specialists, will provide non-emergency medical care and harm reduction services to calls from the Mission District.

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The county's ambulance provider has long pointed to the Mission District as a reason for longer ambulance wait times.

The Mission District is the area on North Broadway below the I-40 overpass, near Knox Area Rescue Ministries and The Salvation Army. AMR officials say it has historically been the source of emergency calls from the city's homeless population, many of which did not actually require an emergency response.

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Regional overdose prevention specialists at MDC said they spent several months surveying individuals in the Mission District to determine their needs. In collaboration with AMR, the Knox County Health Department, the Knoxville Fire Department and Knoxville Area Project Access, the Mission District Team was created.

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Those behind the project expressed hope that this effort would reduce the number of non-emergency hospital visits, freeing up resources and improving response times.

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