On Tuesday, a press release from the city heralded the addition of a homeless medical advocate position to the Ogden Fire Department.

“This initiative — funded through the Utah Office of Homeless Services, Homeless Shelter Cities Mitigation Grant — represents a pioneering approach to addressing the unique medical needs of the unsheltered population,” according to the release.

The release adds that the advocate position was envisioned to tackle two major issues: an over-reliance on 911 emergency medical services for nonemergency health issues by the unsheltered population along with barriers faced by unsheltered populations.

“Our lead Homeless Services Advocate, Anna Davidson, educated us on the importance of meeting the unsheltered where they are,” Ogden Fire Chief Mike Mathieu said in the release. “Unlike most individuals who can schedule appointments and attend them reliably, the unsheltered face complex barriers such as lack of housing, transportation, and basic resources. This new approach seeks to bridge those gaps and provide care tailored to their realities.”

He added that the position is crucial given the city’s 911 call trends.

“Currently, our highest 911 call volume comes from the Lantern House,” he said. “While some calls are true emergencies, many involve primary care issues that could be better addressed through this new position. By deploying a dedicated Medical Advocate, we’re creating a more surgical and effective approach to care.”

Ogden Deputy Fire Chief Michael Slater told the Standard-Examiner on Thursday that the position isn’t replicated elsewhere.

“This role is unique and, to my knowledge, the first of its kind, as it involves hiring a Medical Advocate within a fire department to directly assist those in need,” he said. “The individual we’ve chosen is an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) with experience in both Emergency Medical Services and working with the unsheltered population.”

He said he was unable to identify the individual who will step in as homeless medical advocate at this time, but said they will begin familiarizing themselves with the position on Jan. 27.

Slater added that the department has been collaborating with several agencies through the position.

“Our team has been collaborating closely with community partners such as the Lantern House, Midtown Health Clinic, our Homeless Services Advocates, and the Utah Office of Homeless Services,” he said. “Through these partnerships, we aim to ensure that individuals with medical needs can access the healthcare they require by meeting them where they are.”

According to the original press release, the responsibilities of the homeless medical advocate include:

• “Address minor medical issues such as wound care and infection prevention to prevent escalation to serious health emergencies;”
• “Coordinate with EMTs, paramedics, and other medical professionals to provide appropriate care and referrals;”
• “Integrate with public safety units to ensure a seamless response to medical emergencies;”
• “Facilitate access to preventative and ongoing healthcare for unsheltered individuals.”

Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski said this is another sign of the city’s dedication to helping one of its most vulnerable populations.

“Ogden has long been a leader in innovative support for our unhoused community,” he said in the release. “From instituting the state’s first ‘Code Blue’ program to creating Homeless Services Advocate positions in our police department, we are committed to meeting people where they are and providing critical services. This new position exemplifies our dedication to holistic, compassionate care.”

Slater said the individual will have about a month of onboarding before taking on the role exclusively.