Clark County Fire Crisis Response Pilot Reduces ER Transports, Mental Health Holds

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

• A six-month pilot crisis response program by the Clark County Fire Department in Nevada showed reductions in emergency department transports and involuntary mental health holds for behavioral health calls.
• The three-person team — a paramedic, EMT and licensed social worker — responded to more than 750 incidents and assessed 673 patients.
• The program de-escalated 94 % of crisis contacts and prevented 572 involuntary holds.
• About 70 % of patients were diverted from emergency rooms, reducing hospital strain.
• Commissioners discussed potential permanent funding during a county presentation.

CLARK COUNTY, NV — A pilot crisis response program led by the Clark County Fire Department over six months reduced emergency department transports and involuntary mental health holds for people experiencing behavioral health crises, county officials reported Jan. 8, 2026.

Deputy County Manager Abigail Frierson presented data to Clark County commissioners showing the department’s “CRT 18” unit responded to more than 750 incidents between April 13 and Sept. 29, 2025, with 673 patient contacts. The team consisted of a paramedic, emergency medical technician and licensed clinical social worker.

Frierson said the team de-escalated 94 % of clients and prevented 572 involuntary crisis holds that would have placed individuals in health care facilities for up to 72 hours. Approximately 472 patients, or about 70 %, were diverted from local emergency rooms, easing strain on hospital resources compared with previous years.

County commissioners were briefed on the model’s results, with some urging action to make the program permanent. The pilot was funded by a roughly $535,000 federal grant, and commissioners discussed potential annual costs and offsets through Medicaid reimbursements and state support.

The CRT model, similar to programs in neighboring Southern Nevada jurisdictions, aims to address behavioral health emergencies outside traditional law enforcement and routine EMS responses, providing clinical assessment, stabilization and appropriate referrals.