Mission District Medical Team Cuts Knoxville 911 Calls

A partnership between AMR and community groups brings medical care to Knoxville's Mission District before health issues become emergencies.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Emergency Response

Concrete highway overpass pillars and a folding table with an empty white medical cot in the shade beneath, with a wooded ridgeline in the distance under hazy daylight. — Knoxville's Mission District Medical Team, formed by AMR and community groups two years ago, has cut 911 calls from the area beneath the Interstate 40 overpass. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Mission District Medical Team, created by AMR and several community organizations two years ago, has reduced 911 calls from the area beneath the Interstate 40 overpass behind downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. The district previously accounted for approximately six percent of all AMR 911 calls.

Why it matters

The program targets people experiencing homelessness with consistent medical care, aiming to prevent emergencies that would otherwise require ambulance transport or emergency room visits. For Knoxville residents, it shows how coordinated outreach can ease pressure on emergency medical services, and organizations in other states are studying the model.

AMR records show the Mission District accounted for roughly six percent of its 911 calls two years ago, and only eight district patients needed ambulance transport over the past two years. The source does not provide a current call share or a controlled comparison isolating the program's effect.

The players

American Medical Response (AMR)

AMR is a national ambulance and emergency medical services provider that co-created the Mission District Medical Team with community partners.

KARM

KARM is a Knoxville nonprofit that works with people experiencing homelessness and partners on the Mission District Medical Team.

Metro Drug Coalition

The Metro Drug Coalition is a Knoxville-area substance-use prevention and recovery organization that partners on the program.

The details

The team began at the back of a pickup truck conducting surveys and now operates an established clinic within the district. Partners include KARM, the Metro Drug Coalition, Relaunch, KAPA, first responders, and several other nonprofit organizations.

Two years ago: The Mission District Medical Team was created, when the district accounted for about six percent of AMR 911 calls.
Over the last two years: Only eight district patients required ambulance transport.

Seasonal Patterns

The program follows the community paramedicine model that targets high-call neighborhoods to reduce repeat emergency responses. Its results are measured against the district's earlier share of AMR 911 volume rather than against seasonal weather patterns.

Residents who need non-emergency medical help in the Mission District can rely on the team's clinic rather than calling 911. Caregivers of people experiencing homelessness can connect them with the partner organizations listed in the program.

The takeaway

Coordinated outreach that reaches people before a health crisis can reduce strain on emergency services. Local agencies and nonprofits considering similar models can review how the Knoxville partnership was structured.