ICEMA and CONFIRE team up for a better 911 response – Welcome to San Bernardino County

Five individuals from ICEMA and CONFIRE pose inside a busy emergency dispatch center with several computer and tv monitors. — *ICEMA and CONFIRE partner to improve San Bernardino County’s emergency response system through the Emergency Communications Nurse System program.*

The Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency (ICEMA) will be collaborating with Consolidated Fire Agencies (CONFIRE) and their Emergency Communications Nurse System (ECNS) program in an effort to improve San Bernardino County’s 911 system.

As the local emergency medical services (EMS) agency, ICEMA is responsible for ensuring effective emergency medical services for San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono counties. This includes administering state and local codes and regulations governing the provision of emergency medical care from the scene of an emergency through transport to a care hospital.

A critical component of an efficient EMS system is the coordinated effort of 911 dispatchers, first responders, transport providers, and hospitals to deliver the appropriate level of care at the optimal time and location for each patient. CONFIRE, serving as the 911 dispatch center for a significant majority of emergency calls within the county, utilizes the ECNS.

The ECNS plays a vital role in triaging appropriate, low-acuity calls, redirecting these patients to more suitable healthcare options such as telehealth visits, urgent care facilities, physician offices, pharmacies and behavioral health centers. This diversion effectively reduces the need for dispatching first responders and ambulance providers to these less critical situations. Consequently, patients with lower acuity medical needs receive more timely and appropriate care outside of the traditional 911 response and hospital transport. This strategic redirection also alleviates strain on critical EMS resources, including first responders, transport providers, and hospitals, ensuring their availability for more critical patient needs.

This agreement will enable ICEMA to provide CONFIRE ECNS with an initial funding allocation of $425,000 upon the completion of agreed-upon reporting deliverables that address the financial sustainability and effectiveness metrics of the ECNS program. An additional $425,000 in funding is contingent upon continued monthly reporting and the demonstrated approval of program effectiveness and future sustainability.

Ultimately, this collaboration is about ensuring that when someone in our community dials 911, they receive the most appropriate and timely care possible. The collaboration between ICEMA and CONFIRE, through the ECNS, is a testament to our commitment to the well-being of every resident, striving to make our emergency medical system as responsive and effective as it can be.

Additional County Update News – June 5, 2025