Revolutionizing Rural Health Care: The NMFRA's Mobile Integrated Health Program

A few years ago, Adam Boyd embarked on a journey to become a Physician Associate at the University of Washington, intending to make his mark on the medical world from the confines of a traditional healthcare setting. However, an unforeseen twist of fate changed the course of his career and the state of health care in Mason County, Washington.

Boyd, originally from Bremerton, was working at Peninsula Community Health Services in Belfair when he became aware of the shortcomings in his local healthcare system. Constrained by 15-minute appointment slots and limited immediate health care accessibility, he saw the diminished quality of care his community received, a reality that was all too common throughout Mason County.

The catalyst for change came in an unlikely form: one of Boyd's patients, Chief Beau Bakken of the North Mason Regional Fire Authority (NMRFA). During their conversations, they realized a shared vision to transform rural healthcare, an idea that would eventually culminate in the creation of the NMRFA's Mobile Integrated Health Program.

Launched on January 1 2022, this pioneering program aims to provide accessible, immediate healthcare to North Mason residents who need medical attention but aren't necessarily in a condition that warrants a trip to the emergency room. This innovative solution alleviates the burden on the emergency services, while also providing much-needed relief to patients who might otherwise wait weeks to see a healthcare provider.

Funded primarily by the Mason County Public Hospital District 2, which provides NMRFA with $150,000 annually from property taxes, this program seeks to make a difference without chasing profitability. As Chief Bakken put it, the model is not profit-driven, thereby ensuring accessibility and affordability for all.

Interestingly, this program distinguishes itself from other mobile integrated health programs through Boyd's unique qualifications as a Physician Associate. He has the capacity to refer patients and prescribe medications, a capability crucial for patients who run out of critical medications and can't secure a timely appointment with their primary care physician. In such cases, patients can receive prescriptions from the program without the stress and financial burden of an ER visit.

This program not only benefits patients but also holds significant advantages for hospitals. It helps mitigate hospital penalties associated with readmission's through services like medication reconciliation and discharge instruction reviews.

In operation for just one year, the program has already made substantial progress, and the team has ambitious plans for expansion. They aspire to reduce annual 911 emergency calls by 40% within the next five years, potentially leading to an estimated $2 million in annual healthcare savings.

But this vision doesn't stop at Mason County. Boyd and Chief Bakken aim to build a model for rural healthcare that can be implemented nationwide. For now, the program remains within the North Mason Regional Fire Authority, but they plan to expand throughout Mason County and, ultimately, across Washington State.

In a world where healthcare systems often fall short, especially in rural communities, Boyd and Bakken's Mobile Integrated Health Program is a beacon of hope. It's a testament to the power of collaborative thinking and a willingness to help others and the community around them.

As this innovative approach to rural healthcare continues to unfold, one thing remains clear: the seeds of transformation have been planted. With luck and determination, this program will spur a domino effect, encouraging other counties and communities to look to the Mobile Integrated Health Program and say, "That's something we need here."