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HealthIMTM software supports first responders during emergency mental health crisis calls.

The BC Association of Chiefs of Police is proud to partner with the Province of British Columbia to roll out the evidence-based HealthIMTM Crisis System Response system to all policing agencies in BC.

BCACP recognizes the tremendous benefits HealthIMTM offers to responding personnel and the positive outcomes for the province, communities, and citizens. The system ensures front-line police officers have additional tools to de-escalate crisis situations and help guide clients to additional pathways to care possibly mitigating the overall number of Section 28s respectfully and safely.

Our vision is foster tangible impact and transformational change so we can better serve BC communities. With the implementation of HealthIM and a community-centric approach, we can accelerate efforts to promote safety for clients and police officers, and to drastically improve crisis outcomes.

System Overview

HealthIM™ is a digital system that allows mobile access to review client-specific safety and de-escalation information when responding to urgent mental health calls. The system offers a risk assessment evaluation to support police officers’ decision to apprehend under the Mental Health Act. It provides British Columbia’s law enforcement officers with another tool to navigate the complexities of mental health emergencies, strengthening the response and support for citizens in crisis.

HealthIM™ Consists of Four Components:

Prior to establishing contact with a person in crisis, responders review a brief synopsis of critical safety factors including de-escalation techniques, any known triggers and contextual information compiled from previous contact.

Responders complete a digitized version of the interRAI™ Brief Mental Health Screener (BMHS). The BMHS provides rapid on-scene evaluation of risk and uses clinically validated algorithms to assist in evaluating risk of harm and determining appropriate outcomes. www.interRAI.org.

Secure community networks facilitate wireless transmission of on scene observations to hospital, community mental health and other partner agencies. Advanced notification prior to hospital transport facilitates improved transfer of care.

Real-time access to de-identified aggregate response data via secure analytics portal and automated reporting. Provides timely access to key metrics and insights for agency leadership, community partners and policy makers.

Impact

Trauma-informed responder

By equipping officers with previously known triggers and effective de-escalation tactics, a citizen experiences a trauma-informed responding police officer. his response establishes a safe environment and trust in law enforcement, resulting in peaceful outcomes.

Increased police resources

By decreasing wait times in emergency rooms, officers spend more time patrolling the streets, thus improving public safety.

Improved inter-agency communication

The platform facilitates clear and concise, standardized clinical communication between police officers’ and medical staff which improves appropriate outcomes for the patients and leads to reduced wait times in the emergency room.

Mitigate apprehensions under section 28

Rapid on-scene evaluation of risk assists police officers’ decision to apprehend under section 28, or to consider alternative pathways to care.

Program Benefits

Promote Safety

  • Responders alerted to care considerations prior to establishing contact with a person in crisis.
  • De-escalation information supports peaceful resolution of interactions.
  • Weapons possession and violent behaviour flagged for responders and healthcare staff.

Improve Crisis Outcomes

  • Notification system alerts community partners to incoming persons escorted by emergency responders.
  • Standardized clinical language supports care planning at partner agencies.
  • Responders empowered to make outcome decisions based on the needs of the person in crisis.

Effective Oversight

  • Standardized digital format allows for real time analysis of performance data.
  • Support for Quality Assurance and Professional Standards personnel.
  • Aggregate anonymized data provides insights into response patterns and performance metrics for policy makers.
"The value of this technology is that it gives us advanced notice, like when paramedics warn us of a cardiac arrest coming or an acute stroke. It improves the timeliness and appropriateness of care and supports the patient needs."
Dr. Craig Murray
Chief of Emergency Medicine | Surrey Memorial Hospital
"If I haven’t dealt with an individual but another officer has, as soon as I pull it up I can see their triggers and ways on how to de-escalate things. It ends in a peaceful resolution almost always if we have that prior knowledge."
Cst. Ryan Laycoe
Patrol Officer | Belleville Police Service

For more info contact

Leanne MacLeod

Project Manager, HealthIM™
BC Association of Chiefs of Police
leanne.macleod@bcacp.ca

Funded by