The Community Paramedic Program is a collaborative service between Western Wisconsin Health and Baldwin EMS to provide basic, non-emergent medical care within the home setting. The Community Paramedic Program is designed to be proactive in a patient’s care, with the goal to reduce hospital visits and potential readmissions. With direction and coordination from your primary care team, paramedics will address and treat minor to chronic health diagnoses within the patient’s home environment.
Services Offered
The following are basic medical services offered by the Community Paramedic Program:
- Diabetes Management
- Health and Wellness Education
- Home Safety Assessments
- INR Testing
- Lab Collection
- Medication Management & Education
- Mental Health Coordination
- Vital Sign Monitoring
- Weight Monitoring
- Wound Care
- Additional services may be offered pending patient needs and treatment team recommendations.
About the Community Paramedics
The Community Paramedic Program is comprised of trained Baldwin paramedics. Each individual Community Paramedic has undergone additional education in order to acquire proper certification. Once required classroom and clinical training is complete, Community Paramedics are qualified to manage patient care outside of the hospital. Community Paramedics have the ability to assess patients in a variety of home settings. These include but are not limited to private residents, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and community based residential facilities.
Enrollment
The Community Paramedic Program is a referral-based service for those who do not qualify through other home care agencies. Those completing referrals may include Western Wisconsin Health medical staff and local paramedics. Further program coordination between Western Wisconsin Health staff and the Community Paramedics occurs through the Social Services department at Western Wisconsin Health. The residence of individuals enrolled may extend both within and outside of the Baldwin community. Distance to be traveled will be determined by Community Paramedic Program staff. Following a referral, it is our goal for the patient to meet with a Community Paramedic prior to the first home visit. If this is not an option, the Community Paramedic will contact the patient directly to coordinate a visit schedule.