The Port Angeles Fire Department's Community Paramedicine Program saved more than $850K in costs in 2021-22 by connecting frequent 9-1-1 callers to services that assisted with non-emergent support. Read more in our Connecting Community Members to Care report.
The Community Paramedicine Program’s mission is to improve the overall health of the community and utilize a combination of medical and behavioral health training, multi-agency collaboration, and point-of-care treatment to help solve complicated issues. Members enrolled in the program include those experiencing the following: high use of 9-1-1 and/or emergency department; behavioral health problems including substance use disorder; low-income status; other social and medical needs.
How it works
Partner organizations and Tribes refer individuals with high 9-1-1 and/or ED use
Community paramedic contacts the individual
Community paramedic connects the individual with appropriate services based on their needs
The individual is equipped with supportive services
A Real-Life Success Story
A 37-year-old woman with complex medical conditions (not pictured) including severe mental illness, substance use disorder, and developmental disability was referred to the community paramedicine program by first responders for frequently calling 9-1-1 and visiting the ED for non-emergent behavioral health needs. Prior to engagement with the community paramedicine program, EMS and Fire teams were commonly responding to her one to two times per shift, many times leading to transport to the ED. Within one year of engaging with the community paramedicine program the patient’s 9-1-1 calls decreased by 35%. Two years after engaging with community paramedics, the patient is successfully engaged in behavioral health treatment and is in recovery for substance use disorder.
Additional Successes:
748 unique community members served in 2022
80% decline in ED visits by enrolled patients in 2021
69% reduction in 9-1-1 calls by enrolled patients in 2021
Source: Port Angeles Fire Department Community Paramedicine Program
Click here to read more about the Port Angeles Fire Department's Community Paramedicine Program.
OCH is honored to share the Port Angeles Fire Department's Community Paramedicine Program's success story. We are inspired by their continuing commitment to serve the community well. Read more about this and other successes in our new Connecting Community Members to Care report.
Program contacts: