Community Paramedic

Community paramedics provide scheduled home visits to frail and elderly patients, those with chronic conditions requiring frequent testing and assessments, and individuals recovering from surgery. These visits are arranged through doctor’s offices and clinics to help prevent costly emergency department treatments.

With a simple call from a primary care physician or a referral from the emergency department, surgery center, or inpatient team, a community paramedic can conduct lab tests, take vital signs, perform general assessments, or follow up on hospital discharge orders. Equipped with medical training, years of experience, and a respectful approach to entering people’s homes, paramedics possess a unique skill set for this type of care.

During each shift, community paramedics reach out to patients recently discharged from the hospital to monitor their health. They provide essential non-emergency healthcare services in the home, such as changing dressings, wrapping knees, and even scheduling clinic visits.

In addition to providing healthcare services, community paramedics conduct comprehensive safety surveys in patients’ homes. They assess for trip hazards, ensure proper and easy access inside and outside the home, and check for the availability of meals. They also inform patients about helpful local resources.

Community paramedics receive further education on chronic disease management, medication compliance, and home safety, including fall risk and dizziness balance assessments. They are trained to implement instructions from primary care providers.

As part of their 300-hour training curriculum, community paramedics map health needs in underserved areas, with rural populations often facing challenges in accessing healthcare. While patients may be able to manage their daily needs, transportation to a doctor or clinic can be difficult. Community paramedics bridge this gap by traveling to patients’ homes, providing checkups, and staying in contact with physicians, eliminating the need for patients to worry about transportation.

These visits are provided at no cost to the patient.