Allina leads transporting mental health patients without stigma of flashing lights

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Allina Health community paramedic John O’Brien took Darlene’s blood pressure during a checkup at her home in New Brighton.

[Star Tribune, July 17, 2014] Allina Health, along with a number of hospitals and local officials across Minnesota, is trying new ways to transport mental health patients in a more dignified manner, such as unmarked vehicles with plainclothes paramedics.

They aim to reduce the stigma associated with a psychiatric crisis while also reducing the enormous cost of sending ambulances long distances.

Allina Health, which owns Abbott Northwestern and 11 other hospitals statewide, now keeps an unmarked Ford Escape among its fleet of ambulances at its emergency medical base in Mounds View. Read more at startribune.com.

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