The Community Paramedic Program within the COFEMS department is a new, innovative health care model being adopted by multiple agencies nationwide. It is becoming increasingly popular in rural localities, such as Orange County. This approach to health care involves specialized training that is focused on preventive and proactive health care as compared to the traditional emergency medical services and hospital transport provided by paramedics.
Goals of the program
The main goal of this program is to reduce 911 utilization in the county for nonemergent calls while improving the patient’s overall quality of life. We will receive referrals to the program from our COFEMS operational crew, health care professionals, social workers and case managers, family, or the public through multiple different referral platforms. Some qualifying conditions for the program will be assistance with chronic disease management, frequent falls or lifting assistance, mental illness, substance misuse, food insecurity, transportation needs, or other medical and social needs.
Following referral and enrollment to the program, the community paramedic will visit patients in their home on a weekly basis to ensure the patient care plan and goals are being strived for. This program will act as a rehabilitation period with temporary care and facilitation of alternate resources required to divert from EMS and emergency room use. As we begin this journey establishing this program, we have high hopes that introducing this new resource will benefit the citizens of Orange County as a whole.
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Orange County
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