The city of Weslaco and Knapp Medical Center have teamed up to launch a new program that brings health services directly to people's homes.

The community healthcare program will serve people who don't qualify for hospice or home health providers but have had repeated hospital admissions.

The goal is to keep those patients at home and reduce 911 calls.

People who qualify will get a weekly home visit from Weslaco Fire EMS. The crew will check the patient's vitals during each visit.

"A lot of people are by themselves; some of them don't have family that goes and visits them all the time,” Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez said. “This is a way that we can relate to our community and citizens and help them be there for them.”

Knapp Medical Center will assign a case manager to assess each patient. That case manager will also call patients regularly to make sure they have the resources they need.