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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health Information Hub

 

Rural Project Examples: Emergency medical technicians and paramedics

Effective Examples

funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Livingston County Help For Seniors
Updated/reviewed May 2020
  • Need: Meeting the health needs of geriatric patients in rural Livingston County, New York.
  • Intervention: The Help for Seniors program was developed and using its 'vodcasts,' local EMTs were trained in geriatric screening methods and health needs treatment.
  • Results: In addition to developing a successful model for educating EMS personnel, the program screened over 1200 individuals and identified various risks among the geriatric population.

Other Project Examples

Simulation in Motion-South Dakota (SIM-SD) EMS Educational Outreach Program
Updated/reviewed February 2023
  • Need: To provide increased educational opportunities for emergency care personnel in rural and frontier South Dakota.
  • Intervention: A technologically advanced training was created to enhance the delivery of emergency patient care.
  • Results: Hundreds of emergency medical services (EMS) staff and volunteers received training that in turn helped them in the field of emergency patient care.
Rural Nevada EMS Conference
Updated/reviewed January 2023
  • Need: To provide rural Nevada EMS personnel an opportunity to receive quality training and current EMS information from national EMS educators.
  • Intervention: The Rural Nevada EMS Conference offers continuing education units and engaging sessions for EMS personnel.
  • Results: In 2022, 214 people attended the in-person conference.
AGRIMEDIC
Updated/reviewed December 2022
  • Need: To reduce farm injuries and improve EMS and fire/rescue's response to these injuries in rural Louisiana and Mississippi.
  • Intervention: AGRIMEDIC is a two-day training for first responders.
  • Results: 810 first responders have received training.
funded by the Health Resources Services Administration Maine Critical Access Integrated Paramedics
Added August 2022
  • Need: With the nearest hospital more than an hour away, the local community health center in rural Jackman, Maine struggled to maintain its ability to offer 24/7 care to due to staffing and budgetary challenges.
  • Intervention: Critical Access Integrated Paramedics provide urgent care to patients after hours and on weekends.
  • Results: The Jackman Community Health Center has been able to offer round-the-clock care to clinic patients, while also increasing the level of EMS service available to the community.
Rescue Divas EMT Recruitment
Updated/reviewed June 2022
  • Need: Increased number of emergency medical technicians in rural northern Wisconsin.
  • Intervention: Creation of a program, Rescue Divas, for middle school girls to spark interest in emergency medical services careers.
  • Results: Post-participation results demonstrate the camp increases interest in an emergency medical services career.
Queen Anne's County Mobile Integrated Community Health (MICH) Program
Updated/reviewed March 2022
  • Need: To connect patients to resources in order to reduce use of emergency services, emergency department visits, and hospital readmissions.
  • Intervention: Patients receive support (by in-person visit, phone call, or telehealth visit) from a paramedic, community health nurse, peer recovery specialist, and pharmacist.
  • Results: Between July 2016 and June 2019, the MICH program enrolled 233 patients and demonstrated a total savings of $3,393,908 in healthcare costs.
funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Community Healthcare Integrated Paramedicine Program (CHIPP)
Updated/reviewed January 2022
  • Need: To reduce 911 use and improve older adults' health in rural Santa Cruz County, Arizona.
  • Intervention: Community paramedics made scheduled visits to patients and connected them to other community resources.
  • Results: CHIPP assisted over 150 people, and 911 calls decreased.
funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy MaineGeneral Harm Reduction Program
Updated/reviewed December 2020
  • Need: To reduce deaths from opioid overdoses in rural Maine.
  • Intervention: The MaineGeneral Harm Reduction Program provides community education/training for healthcare staff, first responders, community agency staff, and community members in rural Kennebec and Somerset counties.
  • Results: MaineGeneral continues to train providers, provide stigma assessments, and distribute Narcan kits.
funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy EMS Live@Nite
Updated/reviewed September 2019
  • Need: Distance, time, and cost make it difficult for EMS volunteers to attend continuing education and maintain certification.
  • Intervention: Inland Northwest Health Services delivers free online training to rural EMS providers via video teleconferencing.
  • Results: The EMS Live@Nite program provides free, monthly training to rural EMS providers in the northwestern part of the United States. The program is available through live video conferencing from certified locations in rural communities.

For examples from other sources, see: