Paramedics in Madison, Wis., are using a program that aims to prevent frequent emergency medical calls by sending paramedics on home visits, according to a WMTV report.
Madison implemented the community paramedicine program two years ago, which is run by Madison Fire Department community paramedics Gail Campbell and Mindy Dessert. The program was founded via a partnership with Madison's Meriter Hospital.
For example, Ms. Campbell and Ms. Dessert started making home visits to help a patient who had trouble using her oxygen tank and called for medical help 127 times in 2015. By making home visits and teaching the patient how to use her oxygen tank, they worked to help prevent her from having to call 911 to receive emergency care.
Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis., signed a bill in November to create a formal certification program for paramedics to establish and participate in their own paramedicine programs that can be tailored to their community's needs.