A rural community paramedicine program reduced emergency department (ED) and primary care visits.

Background

Community paramedicine programs use professionals trained in home health, mental health, wound care, and other treatments to deliver non-emergency, community-based services to people who would otherwise visit the ED. This study describes the development and impact of a community paramedicine program in rural Wisconsin on acute care use among people with complex health care needs.  

Findings

A small sample of 32 patients — characterized as high utilizers, with a median age of 76 years, and most of whom had Medicaid or Medicare — were referred to the community paramedicine program and received a combined 412 visits from trained paramedics who documented visit outcomes and necessary follow-up care. After six months in the community paramedicine program, patients showed a 59% reduction in ED visits and a 53% reduction in primary care visits. This decrease in traditional health care utilization was accompanied by an increase in community paramedicine visits.

Program/Policy Takeaways

Implementing community paramedicine in rural settings may reduce reliance on costlier services, like ED and primary care visits, for patients with complex needs. Although overall health care contacts increased, the shift from acute to community-based care may yield savings and better outcomes over time. Policymakers can support further research into the cost-effectiveness and long-term impact of community paramedicine programs.