You took a spill and your leg won’t stop bleeding, but your GP’s office is closed. No one is around to drive you to an urgent-care center. And depending on your insurance, an ambulance ride to the ER could cost you $3,000. The lineup of options seems grim—unless you happen to live in an area serviced by True North Health Navigation. This mobile urgent-care provider—the only one of its kind in the state—has been making house calls for a little more than a year now. Its tricked-out SUV, which is staffed by board-certified physicians and nurse practitioners and fully stocked with antibiotics, IVs, steroids, nebulizers, and more, delivers on-the-scene treatment for low-intensity medical problems (think lacerations and asthma attacks)—without the prohibitive cost. “We’re taking the ER to the patient,” says Dr. Mark Prather, co-founder of True North and an ER doc for more than two decades.

Currently, True North is affiliated with the South Metro Fire Department, which serves parts of Centennial, Greenwood Village, the Denver Tech Center, Lone Tree, and Parker. (Prather expects to expand within the year.) When a non-life-threatening 911 call comes in, the SUV heads out with the ambulance, which allows patients to choose between treatment at home or at the hospital. Final cost: about $200. Now that’s a house call we can feel good about. truenorthhealthnavigation.com

5280 Health 2015
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This article was originally published in 5280 Health 2015.
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.