Nearly one year ago, COMCARE (Sedgwick County’s community mental health center) opened a Community Crisis Center at 635 N. Main.  The crisis center serves patients in mental health and/or substance-abuse crisis situations.  By providing crisis stabilization, sobering and detox services these individuals are diverted from hospital emergency rooms or the booking process at the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.  Furthermore, this allows them to stay in the area voluntarily receiving treatment rather than being transported involuntarily to a state facility which is much more costly. The Community Crisis Center was carefully considered prior to its implementation.  In a report from 2013, Wichita State University found that a community crisis center could have many positive effects for COMCARE and its area partners. Law enforcement and EMS staff time would be re-allocated to other cases. The amount of people in emergency rooms with mental health and/or substance abuse cases would decrease as a result of the option to go to the crisis center.  The jail population would also decrease due to the center.  Overall, the report shared that a crisis center would be beneficial to our community.  

This summer, we anticipate having a completely remodeled community crisis center to better assist the needs of COMCARE.   I am grateful to our COMCARE staff and community partners for creative thinking that results in efficiencies, lower costs and appropriate services.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recognized Sedgwick County EMS and its public safety partners on June 16.   Sedgwick County EMS has been awarded the Mission: Lifeline EMS Silver Recognition Award by the AHA for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.   Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes emergency medical services for their efforts in improving systems of care and improving the quality of life for these patients.