By Gail Parsons
Abilene Reflector-Chronicle
DICKINSON COUNTY, Kan. — Dickinson County is among the first rural areas in Kansas to launch a community paramedicine program aimed at keeping patients healthy at home and reducing unnecessary emergency room visits.
The program was made possible through a three-year, $800,000 grant from the Patterson Foundation, which selected three rural emergency medical services in Kansas to pilot mobile, integrated health care, said John Hultgren, director of the Dickinson County Health Department.
Dickinson County was chosen along with Ottawa County and the city of Norwich in Kingman County.
They received the grant little over a year ago.
“The first year was just getting training and getting a vehicle and supplies bought,” he said. “We are now in the process of doing it. We’ve been seeing patients now for about two months.”
Under the program, physicians can refer patients who may need short-term in-home support after hospitalization or to help manage chronic conditions. Licensed paramedics trained in community care visit patients’ homes on a schedule determined by the provider.
“We can get sent out by a physician or provider to see a patient that maybe is hospitalized or being dismissed from the hospital,” Hultgren said.
Paramedics work with patients for up to six weeks, helping review medications, identify hazards in the home, conduct fall-risk management, and connect patients with resources such as mobility aids or safety equipment.
“So really, what it is, is to try to eliminate patients from needing frequent calls for EMS services or frequent trips to the ER, for something that could have been prevented at home,” he said.
The program also includes diabetic education, wound care support, and coordination with local fire departments to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when needed.
“Just little things like that, which could actually save their life,” Hultgren said.
Looking ahead, Hultgren said the county hopes to sustain the program after the grant period through insurance reimbursement.
“There’s a lot of states now that are being reimbursed through insurance and through Medicare and Medicaid for it,” he said. “They’re seeing the benefit of it, and certainly eliminating the cost on their end, if they can keep or we can keep people out of the hospital.”
Although the program is still new, Hultgren said it has already shown positive results.
“I could say that, that we’ve already prevented, probably, an ambulance trip and a hospitalization,” he said.
Hultgren said he considers Dickinson County’s selection for the pilot program an honor.
“I’m very privileged to be one of the first ones in the state that they picked,” he said. “We didn’t go looking for it. They came to us.”
The county is currently working with Memorial Hospital in Abilene and plans to expand partnerships with additional clinics and physicians as the program grows.
“We just don’t want to get too busy too quick and falter,” Hultgren said. “So, we’re working at a good pace.”
Residents or physicians interested in the service are encouraged to contact Dickinson County EMS.
“It’s a great program, and we’re seeing good results,” Hultgren said. “We think it’s great for our county.”
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