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DOUGHERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - Dougherty County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has announced a new partnership with RightSite Health, a 911 telehealth program designed to connect non-emergency callers with board-certified ER doctors directly from their homes.

The initiative, which launched this month, aims to improve efficiency in emergency response, reduce hospital overcrowding, and ensure citizens receive the right level of care while lowering healthcare costs.

“This gives our medics a better way to help callers who don’t need an ambulance,” said EMS Director Gibney. “It keeps our units available for the more serious calls where minutes count. It’s a win for our citizens across the board—faster and more convenient healthcare, lower costs for patients, reducing the burden on our hospital system, and helping people connect to resources.”

RightSite Health offers video-based telehealth visits with ER physicians and provides wrap-around patient navigation services, including assistance with transportation, prescription delivery, and follow-up care.

“We’re proud to partner with Dougherty County to bring ER-level care into people’s homes,” said RightSite CEO Dr. Jamo Rubin. “Our goal is to get the patient the correct level of healthcare in a cost-effective manner, while also connecting them with resources to improve their lives.”

Patients will not be required to pay at the time of their telehealth visit. Insurance plans will be billed as they would for a typical doctor’s visit, with costs significantly lower than an ambulance transport and emergency room trip.

By partnering with RightSite, Dougherty County EMS says it hopes to ensure faster, more efficient care for non-emergency patients, preserve EMS capacity for urgent cases, and reduce strain on hospital emergency departments.

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