Community Paramedicine
Community paramedicine is a non-emergency service. If you are, or believe you are having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the closest emergency department.
Offered in partnership with the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
For questions, to schedule an appointment with a Community Paramedic, or to refer a loved one to the program email us at redlinewellness@harrisonfd.com or call the station at (740) 983-4115.
What is community paramedicine?
Community paramedicine is a model of care where Paramedics work in non-traditional settings to provide preventative, non-emergency care in the community. The goal of an active community paramedicine program is to improve the community’s access to healthcare, reduce hospital readmissions and optimize the use of emergency resources.
How is a Community Paramedic different from a Paramedic or Home Health Nurse?
Home health nursing, Paramedics and Community Paramedic overlap in a lot of areas but there are key differences between the 3.
Home Health Nurse (RN)
Home health nurses are trained registered nurses (RN’s). The primary focus of a home health nurse is to provide medium to long-term in-home care in structured manner that is driven by orders from your physician. Home-health RN’s are able to complete a more in depth assessment typically than that of a Paramedic. They may also be able to administer medications and other treatments ordered by your doctor. Home health nurses are typically not trained in emergency medicine but are trained to identify life-threatening conditions and emergencies and what role they play when one is identified. The key focus of the home health RN is ongoing patient care, treatment and recovery with care tailored specifically to that patient through the direction of the patient’s primary care provider.
Paramedic
Paramedics are trained in emergency medicine and practice within the confines of a medical protocol under the supervision of a medical director. The medical director is a licensed physician trained in emergency medicine. The primary focus of the Paramedic is acute, short-term care aimed at identifying immediate life threatening emergencies, providing emergency treatment through various treatments, monitoring and medication and to provide rapid transport to a hospital for long-term care. Paramedics, particularly ones with the Fire Department, operate exclusively in the pre-hospital setting or 911. Paramedics are able to perform an advanced life support assessment and identify life-threatening conditions. The protocol defines what steps, medications and treatments the Paramedic may administer to the patient once a diagnosis is made about the patient’s condition. The key focus of the Paramedic is rapid assessment and providing life-saving interventions in an uncontrolled environment and providing rapid transport to a higher level of definitive care.
Community Paramedic
Community Paramedics are paramedics who have received all of the training and experience of a Paramedic but have also attended a Community Paramedic training course. The primary focus of the Community Paramedic is ongoing (or intermittent) preventative, follow-up care after someone has been discharged from the hospital back home. The Community Paramedic conducts a home visit and is able to connect the patient with medical and social resources to help reduce emergency department visits and hospital readmissions. The key focus of the Community Paramedic is preventative care and bridging the gap between emergency services (911, Paramedic) and primary care (RN and Physicians).
How the Harrison Township Fire Department’s Community Paramedicine program can help you & your family.
We are able to connect you with resources to help your specific situation and needs. Through the use of strong, hardworking individuals who have built a near endless list of resources and partnerships within the community, we are able to connect you with things such as pill box organizers, blood pressure cuffs to monitor your blood pressure at home and Vial of Life information, just to name a few. We are also able to connect you with others in your community who are willing to lend a helping hand or an ear to listen.
Services offered and focus areas
Services
- Fall risk assessments and advice on things to do around the home to reduce the likelihood of experiencing a fall.
- Filling pill boxes.
- Installing grab bars.
- Checking smoke detectors and changing batteries/detectors as needed.
- Providing basic medical supplies.
- Checking vitals, including blood pressure.
- Assisting patients with understanding discharge papers and post-visit care instructions.
- Assisting patients with scheduling follow-up care appointments with their Physician.
Focus Areas
Our focus areas vary widely based on the demographics of the patient we encounter. Select from the drop down below to see the focus areas for each type of demographic we encounter through the Community Paramedicine Program.
Schedule an Appointment/Questions
If you have questions about the Community Paramedicine Program or would like to schedule an appointment for yourself, or to refer a loved one to the program please give us a call at (740) 983-4115 or send us a message at redlinewellness@harrisonfd.com