Interested in a program which can save patients money, save hospitals money and free up some ambulance time?
So are the Gilmer County commissioners. They approved creation of a Community Paramedicine program at their meeting Sept. 12 and budgeted for the purchase of a Ford Explorer.
“We are hoping it will be a good service for folks,” said Gilmer County Chairman Charlie Paris. “I believe it is better to put the wear and tear on a $30,000 Explorer than a $250,000 ambulance.”
A Community Paramedicine program is not a new idea, said Gilmer County EMS chief Russell Brown, just new to Gilmer County.
Once the Explorer is purchased, it will be equipped similar to an ambulance. It will also be licensed as a first-response vehicle.
“It will have a lot of the same equipment an ambulance can hold,” Brown said.
The vehicle will not be used to transport patients.
A registered nurse/EMT and an EMT will then staff the vehicle.
When patients with chronic disease or problems are released from the hospital, the county will be notified and visits will be set up.
The community paramedicine team will meet with the patients and families, review medicines and educate how they should be taken and effectiveness, check out the safety of the home with the owner’s permission and work with the hospital to make necessary changes.
Goals of the program are to cut down on readmissions and help the patient remain at home.
“People heal better at home,” Brown said.
Plus, an average hospital admission and stay is running around $80,000, he said.
For the county, it can free up some ambulance time which is now being used for similar calls.
“I consider it butter over too much bread, spread thin,” said Brown of the current call load for the county ambulances. “There are only so many of us to go around.”
He said the service will benefit everyone involved. The patients will not be billed because the service will be paid for in a variety of ways being worked out right now.
“It’s a win-win for everybody,” Brown said.
So far, Brown has found no complaints when talking to other areas which have implemented the program. Everyone is talking about expanding.
Realistically, Brown said the team should be able to see eight people a day, if they are going to spend any amount of time with them.
In six months, he looks to have the data to back up the savings he knows will be involved.
Brown also predicts Fannin and Pickens will be copying the program soon after they get a look at the possibilities.