- April 19, 2024
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Flagler County plans to implement a new program designed to reduce calls to 911 that are increasing costs and placing a burden on the Fire Rescue Division.
At a June 5 workshop, County Commissioners learned about a new program called Community Paramedicine that is planned to reduce transports while also providing better care for the public. A paramedic will visit those who frequently call 911 to help them resolve their medical issues so they don't have to call for emergency help.
“It’s nice to do the right thing and also have it make financial sense,” said Dr. Kristin McCabe, EMS medical director and chief of staff at Florida Hospital Flagler. She called Community Paramedicine a “proactive wellness program” that will provide preventive care and intervention to reduce emergency situations.
‘PEOPLE WANT SOMEONE TO TALK TO’
Often, callers don’t need transport to the hospital, but just need to learn where to turn for proper care, said Fire Chief Don Petito, who presented the program at the workshop.
“People want someone to talk to and that’s what this program will do,” he said.
McCabe said the most critical aspect is medication reconciliation. She cited an example of a patient who was taking both a generic drug and a brand name for blood pressure, so they were getting double the required dose.
“We make sure they understand what they are taking,” she said. “It’s a key function.”
But there can be many reasons for calling. Petito said one person’s water was cut off and they didn’t know what to do so they called 911.
Petitio said they initially plan to hire one paramedic to work full-time on the project. He said the program will start with the new paramedic visiting the 25 patients they have identified who have called 911 frequently.
Asked how often the patient would receive a visit, Petito said it would depend on their needs and could be weekly or monthly.
The plan calls for partnering with assisted living facilities, pharmacies, social services, hospitals, physicians, etc.
COSTS CAN ADD UP
Emergency calls have increased 6% a year since 2012, according to the presentation. Reasons include an increased population, aging citizens and the underinsured, who use emergency services as primary care.
One person in Flagler County was transported 60 times in a one-year period. Another person called 57 times and was transported 23 times.
The county does not recover all their costs when transporting a patient. When a patient is insured, the county can bill for the balance but sometimes there is no money. Medicare pays 75%.
If the county were to add a fire truck, the cost would be $830,000 after adding the cost of staffing and supplies, according to the workshop presentation.
Since 2015, the county has outsourced some calls to American Ambulance and Century Ambulance to reduce the number of responses.
OFFICIAL AGREE ON NEED
Craig Coffey, county administrator, told the officials at the workshop that staff planned to place the program in the budget that the officials will consider this fall. However, he said it could be started earlier if desired. The commissioners at the workshop indicated that they wanted the program started sooner, so Coffey will bring it back in a regular meeting in a formal proposal instead of waiting for next year’s budget.
Petito said Paramedicine is a national trend and there are currently programs in six other states. It is being pushed by the Florida Dept. of Health, Division of Emergency Services.
