From the Silicon Valley Mercury News: Alameda County (Calif.) Fire Chief Sheldon Gilbert and Alameda County Health Care Services Agency Director Alex Briscoe presented a plan Thursday to the Newark City Council that would provide health care for the uninsured from local fire stations.

The Fire Station Health Care Portal pilot program would offer free primary and preventive care to the public at five fire stations. Those with health insurance will be served, but the program's target audience is those who are uninsured or underinsured.

If the plan goes forward, each of the five stations would be staffed with three full-time employees: a firefighter-paramedic, a care coordinator and a nurse practitioner.

The program also would respond to nonemergency 911 calls, provide follow-up care for residents 48 hours after an emergency-room visit and take direct referrals from 211 calls for medical advice. Read the entire article here.