Page last updated on December 14, 2023 at 3:44 pm
For more information, please contact
Shelby VanDerMoere, Mobile Integrated Health Program Manager, Bloomington Fire Department
shelby.vandermoere@bloomington.in.gov or 812-332-9763
Angela Van Rooy, Interim Communications Director, Office of the Mayor
angela.vanrooy@bloomington.in.gov or 812-349-3505
BFD Mobile Integrated Healthcare Program Wins $50k Grant from State
The Bloomington Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) program is the recipient of a $50k grant from the State Department of Homeland Security, thanks to the extensive work by MIH Trainer, Trisha Rademachir. This funding opportunity will allow for innovations in equipment and technology to assist in addressing emerging community needs.
“Our goal is always to improve quality of life for the patient by at least 1%,” said MIH Program Manager Shelby VanDerMoere. “We do this by utilizing our EMT skills to perform medical assessments, while also advocating and coordinating holistic care for our patients, so that they no longer fall through the healthcare system gaps. The Mobile Integrated Healthcare program recently received its 150th referral to the program with at least three life saves. It is working!”
News of the grant award came at a great time for BFD as the MIH program is set to expand in 2024 by adding three additional Community EMTs. The MIH program at its inception was the only Fire-based program south of Marion County and is unique in several ways, as noted by State EMS Director Kraig Kinney, who said, “At the State, we have closely tracked the BFD MIH program since its inception. It is unique in that BFD is not the transporting or ambulance provider for the City, but they are the EMS first response department.” Kinney also noted that the strength of the BFD MIH program is that it is tied to community needs and works with community resources to make a difference in the city.
“We are incredibly proud of the work that our entire department does to support and serve the community,” says Jason Moore, BFD Fire Chief. “Our membership truly cares for the community and going above and beyond to do things like seeking alternative funding is proof that everyone is doing what they can to help.”
The Bloomington MIH team, made up of Shelby VanDerMoere, Trisha Rademachir, Lily Blackwell, and Amber Stewart, was recently featured on the Hoosier Homeland Podcast. Listen to learn how they support Bloomington residents in their own words.