Mobile Integrated Healthcare

Nurses and Doctors with Medical Equipment Walking Up Stares

The Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) Consortium is an alliance of the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) member agencies that share a vision of providing comprehensive community-based care to improve continuity and manage costs to patients and healthcare providers.  The Consortium provides a mechanism to centralize, streamline and simplify processes for contracting, data collection, information sharing, quality improvement and regulatory compliance.   MIH, by its very nature, is the integration of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and healthcare partners in new and innovative ways.  Over 70 EMS agencies within the STRAC region provide emergency 911 response capability within traditional service borders, usually consisting of city or county lines.  Hospitals provide care for patients across all the jurisdictions and EMS transports to multiple hospitals and healthcare systems.  The Consortium provides solutions for EMS-based Mobile Integrated Healthcare programs, healthcare systems, payors and specialty care providers by mitigating the complex challenges of matching patients to MIH program providers, thereby giving the healthcare organization and/or payor an easy way to ensure all patients in need of community based healthcare management services at home will be cared for consistently and comprehensively, regardless of where the patient lives.

 

The Mobile Integrated Healthcare Consortium, at its core, leverages the extensive resources of EMS agencies in the STRAC region to provide primary care in the patient’s home along with assistance in navigating the complex healthcare system. MIH programs address issues with over-utilization of 911, hospital re-admission, and at-risk populations by ensuring specific patient populations are cared for efficiently and effectively by routine monitoring and communication, as well as linkages to primary care or specialty care services for better care and outcomes. The Consortium is primarily a structure to allow innovative programs to cross-connect and integrate within the common framework. MIH providers utilize targeted programs that address their unique challenges, while also participating in region-wide efforts.  

 

One of the key tenets of the MIH Consortium is the collaboration and professional collegiality among 911 providers.   MIH Consortium members have agreed to perform MIH services in their primary 911 service area, and only cross boundary lines into other agencies areas when requested and/or approved by the agency that is the EMS Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).   In the STRAC region, there is only one EMS provider for every square foot of the region.  Honoring the existing 911 boundaries both ensures the agency’s primary coverage area will be covered by their own MIH program or one they have approved, and it ensures the Consortium has region-wide coverage for patients. 

MIH Agencies

New Braunfels Fire

The Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program is operated in partnership with the McKenna Foundation and was launched in January 2024. The program works with patients in our community who historically utilize 9-1-1 for Fire/EMS on an above-average basis, inappropriately, or they are simply in need of services beyond the emergency response. Typically, patients are added to the MIH Program based on raw data, but EMS crews and emergency responders may also refer patients to the MIH Program. Our MIH Program is designed to help patients navigate their healthcare and receive the local resources they need and deserve to live healthier lives outside the emergency response system. Ultimately, this allows the individual patient to better manage their own healthcare while also keeping New Braunfels Fire Department ambulances and fire trucks readily available to respond to life-threatening emergencies.

The New Braunfels Fire Department MIH Specialist drives a marked SUV-type vehicle that carries basic life support equipment. MIH is not currently accepting new patients referred by the public.

 

To Learn More Visit: newbraunfels.gov

San Antonio Fire/EMS

The San Antonio Fire Department serves the population of the City of San Antonio as an all-hazard department since 1854. Beginning as a volunteer fire department with only 20 members, the department has grown to 1774 uniformed members and 118 civilian employees. These brave men and women serve and protect the 465.4 square miles of the City of San Antonio and its approximately 1.452 million citizens and countless visitors. The department currently staffs 54 Fire Engines, 21 Ladder Trucks, 43 Ambulances, 2 Technical Rescue Teams, 2 Hazardous Materials Teams, and an Airport Rescue division within its 54 Fire Stations.

MIH was initially staffed with five paramedics detailed into the MIH division as the MIH program has grown, it has expanded to a staff of 16 fulltime paramedics and a list of over 150 alternates that fill the daily staffing needs of the 10 MIH programs that are currently active.

 

To Learn More Visit: firesafesa.com

Schertz EMS

Our Community Health Department offers a variety of different services to the citizens of all of the communities that we serve. From Child Safety Seat Inspections to CPR/First Aid courses, we are always interested in helping keep our citizens safe and trained to respond to emergencies. 

 

To Learn More Visit: schertz.com

Wilson County Emergency Services District No. 3

Wilson County ESD #3 serves the eastern half of Wilson County, Texas. The District provides Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to approximately 450 square miles of eastern Wilson county and includes the City of La Vernia, City of Stockdale and all rural unincorporated areas in between to the County lines of Gonzales, Karnes, Bexar and Guadalupe.  The estimated population for the District is around 30,000.

Some Community Paramedicine programs that are specialized or patient-specific that we have available: 

  • High Volume Utilizers
  • Hospice    
  • Home health partnerships
  • Hospice revocation avoidance
  • Admission/Readmission Reduction Program   
  • Hospital Discharge Follow-Up
  • Chronic Disease Management & Education
  • In-Home Safety and Fall Prevention
  • Referrals to Appropriate Community Resources we have identified and partnered with 

Our Community Paramedics have collaborated with or referred patients to:

  • Meals on Wheels.
  • Food Banks/Pantries
  • Primary care providers.
  • Sliding scale primary care clinics.
  • Physician specialists.
  • Evidence-based fall reduction courses.
  • Wheelchair Ramps
  • Mental health referrals.
  • Veterans – VA Benefits, VA services
  • Child Protective Services (CPS).
  • Adult Protective Services (APS)
  • House-call practitioner services.
  • In-patient rehabilitation hospitals.
  • Skilled nursing facilities.
  • Personal care homes.
  • Prescription Assistance
  • Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Referrals
  • School districts.

 

To Learn More Visit: wcesd3.net

Wilson County Emergency Services District No. 4

Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) is an innovative program that aims to provide community-based and individualized care to patients in our community who are at risk of preventable hospital readmission or repeated use of the 911 EMS system. Our District’s MIH program uses specially trained Community Paramedics to deliver this focused level of care to patients that frequently interact with the local emergency healthcare system. Our MIH Paramedics help enrolled patients connect with local resources and navigate barriers to better manage their health and reduce reliance on emergency systems. Patients are identified through analyzing the Department’s service data, referrals from EMS crews, and hospice patients enrolled with STRAC-contracted hospice agencies. Our MIH Paramedics drive a specialized RAV4 SUV, partially funded through a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, to maintain District ambulances for emergency calls.

Our District’s MIH Program focuses on:

  • Preventing hospital readmission or hospice revocation with patients on hospice with STRAC-contracted agencies
  • Reducing emergency system use by High Volume Utilizers of Emergency Medical Services.

In addition, the District’s MIH Program conducts a variety of injury prevention and health education activities to reduce the impact health emergencies in the broader community. These include:

  • FALL Prevention education classes
  • Home visits to reduce fall risk factors
  • Chronic illness prevention and management classes
  • Child Car Seat inspections

 

To Learn More Visit: wcesd4tx.us

MIH Hospice

The STRAC Regional MIH (Mobile Integrated Healthcare) Hospice program enables enrolled hospice organizations to collaborate with local MIH providers to support their patients when 911 is contacted. An MIH organization charges a per-member, per-month fee to the hospice organization and, in return, enrolls the hospice organization’s patient census into a database. This database allows an MIH Paramedic to respond alongside an EMS unit when 911 is contacted by the hospice patient or their family. The MIH Paramedic’s goal is to work with the hospice organization to provide the best possible care for the patient, avoiding unnecessary hospital transports whenever possible.

Caregiver holding hands Asian elderly woman patient, help and care in hospital.

Hospice Inquiry

If your hospice agency is interested in participating in the STRAC Regional MIH Hospice Program, please provide the information below. A member of our team will contact you soon to request additional information and discuss next steps.

Hospice Agency
Hospice Agency Name *
Do you have a DBA? If so, what is the name?
Street *
City *
State *
Zip *
Owner
Name *
Phone *
Email *
Operational Contact
Name *
Phone *
Email *
Is your on call phone number answered by a staff member or answering service *
Do you have the ability to provide an actual staff member that can answer after hours calls from MIH
Total Census *
Does your facility provide respite care?
Does your facility have an ambulance contract?
Do you have patients in the following areas? *
Do you accept:

Our Committees

The Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) is designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to develop, implement and maintain the regional trauma and emergency healthcare system for the 22 counties in Trauma Service Area – P (TSA-P).

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