b'STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE FIVE There is a salient need to provide expanded non-emergent medical care in local communities. Fire and emergency services continue to be overburdened by low acuity (minor) medical calls that could be resolved through the application of programs, such as community paramedicine and/or mobile integrated health care. The fire and emergency services is uniquely positioned to work with a broad range of health care providers, and key stakeholders, to deliver out-of-hospital services. The ever-expanding scope of the fire and emergency services mission will require additional resources, including staffing, training, equipment, and funding.BackgroundMany local community services, such as medical care and mental health support, are taxed to their limits. Fire and emergency services is often called upon to fill the void and bridge the gap between community need and the existing service delivery models. Some fire and emergency services have established community paramedicine non-emergency response units. This type of inventive leadership should be acknowledged and celebrated. However, local communities must provide their fire and emergency services with the needed resources to answer these and other emergent needs.12'