How Mobile Crisis Response Teams Are Reducing Emergency Room Visits and Police Interventions

Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRT) have reimagined the response to emergencies that may be classified as “psychiatric” or “intoxicated” persons. The result? There were fewer unneeded trips to the emergency department and a greatly reduced strain on the police. This guide discusses the “how” of the MCRT, what makes them unique, and why they work.

Mobile Crisis Response Teams provide an alternative response to situations the police would otherwise handle. For example, if someone is having a behavioral emergency, instead of being subdued and detained, MCRTs seek to de-escalate and treat. It’s a shift in focus. Instead of asking, “Was there a crime committed?” Crisis Response Teams ask: “Is there a medical or psychological component that we can treat?”

The first question often leads to jail. The second question leads to care and prevention.

How do Mobile Crisis Response Teams Work to Reduce ER Visits and Police Resources?

We call them Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRTs). Before we discuss the program’s details, let’s break down the name to understand MCRTs. First, we have MOBILE. This means these teams are active in the community, working from a vehicle or multiple vehicles that are plugged into dispatch and ready to respond (while there may be a clinical component, field operation is a key principle).

Next, we have CRISIS. Depending on the community and the needs, the crisis could be defined in many ways, but the common ones are behavioral, mental health, substance use, and potential intoxication/public belligerence. The idea is to reach those situations where there might be something going on beyond just criminal activity.

Now we have RESPONSE. The team needs to be ready to respond to the crisis in real time—not after the fact. Certainly, there is value in both, but these teams need to be ready to take over the reins for what might typically be a police or EMS response.

Finally, and probably most importantly, we have TEAM. MCRTs are often built of multiple professionals, including medics, mental health pros, and police officers (often unarmed).

Here’s how mobile crisis response teams work:

  • Mobile Crisis Response Teams: Build a Team of Providers from Multiple Professions and Backgrounds
  • Work with Dispatchers and Community Members Through Numbers Other Than 911
  • Work to De-escalate and Treat People Who Might Otherwise be Detained
  • Give People a Pathway of Care Besides the Emergency Room
  • Allow Police Officers to Remain In-Service to Respond to High-Priority Incidents

We’ve given you the ten-mile view, but now let’s lean in a little closer and really understand why these programs can be so effective.

Mobile Crisis Response Teams: Build a Team of Providers from Multiple Professions and Backgrounds

The first step in Mobile Crisis Response Teams is building the team. These teams are composed of professionals from EMS, law enforcement, and crisis situations. Sometimes, you’ll have social workers as part of these teams. Other times, there will be rehab professionals. The team is built to fit the community, and everyone plays a role.

Note: Some law enforcement agencies might assume that sending an unarmed team into crisis situations is “dangerous” or “reckless.” This is a fair point, and it’s important to clarify. Nobody is denying that there are some situations where a show of force is required to immediately save the lives of bystanders and fellow responders. These are always difficult and nuanced decisions.

That said, there are many situations where an unneeded show of force leads to poor outcomes. Crisis response teams seek to carefully respond to those people who may require more than typical EMS but less than a full police response. No doubt, it requires the professional opinion and judgment of all team members—police, EMS, mental health pros—to make a safe decision.

In most cases, fully equipped police officers are nearby and ready to help if necessary. Make no mistake: With mobile crisis response teams, the safety of the providers is still the first priority.

Mobile Crisis Response Teams: Work with Dispatchers and Community Members Through Numbers Other Than 911

Now, let’s get into the specifics of why these programs are helpful. First, many areas have a designated crisis response number, such as 988. This number is for people who need some kind of response but not the typical ambulance, fire, police, etc.

However, 911 dispatch centers will still field many of these calls, and in these cases, dispatchers are trained to listen for cues that signal the Mobile Crisis Response Team should be dispatched.

With this system, dispatchers can ensure that most police officers remain available or only respond to the scene to provide immediate safety while they wait for the MCRT to arrive. When this system works well, it’s like a well-oiled machine.

Mobile Crisis Response Teams: Work to De-escalate and Treat People Who Might Otherwise be Detained

After the dispatcher sends the responders, they assess the scene to determine whether it’s safe to enter and whether they have the resources to handle the situation. From this point, they may clear the police officer on the scene to return to service or hang out in the area to help if required. This is one of the ways these teams stay safe. Nobody just runs blindly into a situation.

From there, the team will approach the patient. Now everybody knows their role. If it’s an overdose situation, the paramedic may start things off by ensuring that the patient is breathing effectively and administering any reversal agents that may be needed.

If the patient is awake and there is no physical threat to themselves, the mental health professional or social worker may take over the assessment. If at any point the patient needs to be restrained, the paramedic and unarmed police officers will work together to safely restrain and treat the person as a patient rather than a criminal, with the goal being care, not custody.

This system helps reduce the workload on officers and leads to better long-term care for the person involved.

Mobile Crisis Response Teams: Give People a Pathway of Care Besides the Emergency Room

A transport decision will be made after the situation has been handled and the person has been determined not to be an immediate threat to themselves or others. This reduces the unneeded ER visits. The professionals are trained to treat more problems in the field and may also be able to transport the person to a different destination.

For example, if it was strictly a behavioral emergency, they may take the person to a mental healthcare facility. If it was an overdose, the patient may be taken to a rehab center. If it was bizarre behavior related to blood sugar or another physical ailment, they may be taken to the hospital for care. In this way, we reduce the strain on the ED.

Mobile Crisis Response Teams: Allow Police Officers to Remain In-Service to Respond to High-Priority Incidents

Finally, these teams free up resources for the police department. In many cases, police officers would rather not deal with medical/psychiatric emergencies. And this is not for lack of empathy—many officers simply feel they don’t have the resources to properly give these people the help that they require.

When you create a dedicated Mobile Crisis Response Team to lead the charge for behavioral emergencies and crises, you get two positive outcomes. First, you give officers agency to really help. Many law enforcement members would be glad to respond to these patients as long as they had some definitive treatment they could provide. Officers who join these teams feel empowered to make real change in their communities, and that’s exciting.

Second, you have a more efficient system. Think about it: in many parts of our lives, when something is everyone’s job, it’s nobody’s job. By designating a few members of the police department to take part in an MCRT, you have a group of people who will take ownership of the problem and search for ways to solve it. And that’s great for police departments and great for the community.

Conclusion: The Many Benefits of a Mobile Crisis Response Team for Police Departments

Mobile Crisis Response Teams have been around in some capacity for many years, but recently, they’ve gained popularity. Why? More and more police departments are stretched for resources and struggling to meet the demand for help. Many of these calls are for mental health and substance abuse-related issues.

MCRTs ensure that communities have a designated, appropriate response to people in crisis. These teams are built of trained professionals working together to provide holistic care. The result? Fewer people were clogging the ER, and fewer officers were tied up on scenes.

Contact Julota if you’re curious about a virtual home base for your Mobile Crisis Response Team. A representative would be glad to answer all your questions and listen to your unique needs.