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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

#RuralHealthChat: Community Paramedicine

Date: Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Duration: approximately 60 minutes

Because rural emergency medical services often experience lower volume of calls, it can be difficult for rural communities to financially support those services. And yet, the loss of EMS can be devastating in these communities. Additionally, rural residents often face more difficulty in accessing health care due to distance and lack of public transportation options. The Community Paramedicine model allows paramedics to spend time when they are not responding to emergencies making house calls to provide primary care, post-discharge follow-up care, and education and health promotion programs.

Co-Hosts:

  • Andy Gienapp, MS, NRP, Manager, Office of Emergency Medical Services, Wyoming Department of Health, @AndyGienapp
  • Melinda A Merrell, MPH, Senior Program Director, South Carolina Office of Rural Health, @onlywayiknow
  • Gary Wingrove, FACPE, CP-C, Government Relations Specialist, Mayo Clinic Medical Transport, @garywingrove

We used the hashtag #RuralHealthChat to tweet with expert co-hosts and special guests about community paramedicine in rural areas. If you’d like to see our conversation or access the many resources shared, they are all available below, via Listly.