Mehlville Fire Protection District
Protecting Life and Property in South St. Louis County for Over 60 Years

MEHLVILLE MOBILE CONTINUES UNPRECEDENTED RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

At the start of 2020, Mehlville Mobile Healthcare was laying the ground work to expand its successful programs for high utilizers. But with the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, MMH personnel shifted course to pandemic response.

First Responder Hotline and COVID Testing

In February of 2020, MFPD’s Battalion Chief for Mobile Integrated Health, Tricia O’Laughlin, was assigned to work with the St. Louis County Office of Emergency Management and St. Louis County Department of Public Health to establish countywide safety guidelines and COVID testing for first responders. She ran a 24/7 first responder hotline to help St. Louis County first responders and other medical professionals navigate concerns about potential COVID-19 exposures. Mehlville Mobile Community Paramedics began testing first responders, and when hospitals became overwhelmed with coronavirus cases and shut down their first responder testing, Mehlville Mobile stepped in to take over all first responder testing for the county. By the time the testing site switched to vaccine administration early in 2021, over 1,700 first responders were tested. The centralized testing site and rapid results enabled first responders to quickly return to serving their communities.

COVID Mobile Supports Residents Suffering from Coronavirus

At the same time, Mehlville Mobile set up a community response called COVID Mobile to screen District residents experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. COVID Mobile’s Community Paramedics visited patients to assess their condition, take vital signs, and recommend an appropriate course of action ranging from home monitoring to immediate transport to the emergency department. Residents filled out a form through the MFPD website, and within an hour or two received a visit from COVID Mobile. Most patients were able to remain in their home, avoiding an undesirable trip to the emergency department. Some residents were loaned diagnostic equipment to monitor their oxygen level, with instructions to call 911 if it dipped too low. COVID Mobile provided guidance to residents at a critical point in the pandemic.

On Target to Vaccinate Thousands

In partnership with the Department of Public Health, Mehlville Mobile began administering vaccinations early in February, initially for first responders and then for the general public in the allowed tiers. Community paramedics vaccinated 867 people in February and expect to have vaccinated over 2,000 people by the end of March. Over 1,700 first responders were tested by Mehlville Mobile. The vaccination clinic will continue for the foreseeable future.

Aaron Hilmer - Chairman
Dr. Bonnie Stegman - Treasurer
Edmond Ryan - Secretary
Brian Hendricks - Chief
 
Mehlville Fire Protection District 11020 Mueller Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63123
(314) 894-0420 • www.mehlvillefire.com • Like us on Facebook
Providing Fire and EMS services in a fiscally responsible manner