High Risk Reduction for 911 /ER Super Users

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Onslow County EMS developed a Community paramedic program in spring of 2015 to address high volume EMS / ED patients and patients deemed high-risk for Hospital Readmission. This targeted population has a high percentage of underlying mental health, substance abuse and social issues that place a huge strain on our local healthcare system. We are filling a void that exist by working with our local healthcare community to assist these patients with better monitoring, education, and tracking of their chronic disease while helping to navigate these patients to more appropriate services such as RHA Community Crisis Center, Onslow Community Outreach Inc and various Primary Care Physicians (PCP). Many our patients who are directed to this program are senior citizens, homeless, disabled and low income. With most having under lying mental health and substance abuse issues that may or may not be diagnosed yet along with co-morbid factors such as Diabetes, Congestive Heart Failure(CHF), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD) and Hypertension. From April of 2015 to December 2017 we saw 213 patients of which we reduced their 911 call rate by 67%, their ER visit reduction rate by 66% and their hospital readmissions rate by 60%. We had several patients who were super utilizers who accounted for hundreds of 911 calls and weeks of hospital admissions and we were able to help these patients overcome substance abuse issues and regain control of theirs lives