Columbus Paramedics Make Home Visits to Frequent 911 Callers

A voluntary program sends community paramedics to people who repeatedly call 911, linking them to care instead of emergency transport.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Emergency Response

Columbus Paramedics Make Home Visits to Frequent 911 Callers

Live Poll

Should your city fund paramedics who visit frequent 911 callers at home?

Columbus Fire and EMS's Columbus Correct Care program has sent community paramedics to 358 addresses since February 2025. Referrals to care and resources rose from 43 last year to 127 so far this year.

Why it matters

The program targets high 911 use by the same callers, aiming to connect people with ongoing care rather than repeated emergency responses. For Columbus residents, it offers an alternative path to health support when calls recur.

Referrals to care and resources nearly tripled, from 43 last year to 127 so far this year, according to city figures. The program's effect on repeat 911 call volume has not been reported.

The players

Columbus Fire and EMS

The Columbus city department that runs the Columbus Correct Care program and its community paramedic teams.

Sen. Jon Ossoff

The U.S. senator whose federal grant effort helped start the Columbus program.

The details

Community paramedics make house calls to people who repeatedly call 911, checking blood pressure and blood sugar and referring patients to doctors when needed. The eight-to-16-week program is voluntary and does not bill patients for services, and it is funded by the city's community care fund after starting with a federal grant spearheaded by Sen. Ossoff.

February 2025: Columbus Correct Care visits began.
October 31, 2026: Paramedics had visited 358 addresses.
Early 2027: A third unit is planned to launch.

Emergency Response Model

The program began with a federal grant spearheaded by Sen. Ossoff and now runs on city funding, expanding from community paramedic visits to a second team pairing a paramedic, police officer and counselor. Columbus Correct Care earned a 2025 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties.

Residents who repeatedly call 911 for non-emergency health needs can ask about the voluntary Columbus Correct Care program, which does not bill patients. The program's visits are scheduled as an 8-to-16-week voluntary engagement rather than one-time responses.

The takeaway

Connecting frequent 911 callers with paramedics and care referrals is a model that can reduce strain on emergency services while addressing underlying health needs. Referral growth from 43 to 127 suggests the approach is reaching more people.