The two programs, both set to begin Sept. 1, are the result of a decade-old Institute of Medicine report that recommended investigating alternative ways to use EMS agencies to deliver quality healthcare.
The first of the programs, the Alternative Transport Program, aims to transport patients with less serious medical complaints to approved urgent care centers where wait times are much shorter, rather than to the nearest ER. This will enable EMS crews and ambulances to return to service more quickly.
The second program focuses on providing home visits for congestive heart failure patients who have been recently released from the hospital. The goal of the visits is to assess and evaluate patient symptoms, ensure medications are being taken properly, and to discuss dietary and environmental factors that could contribute to readmission at a later date.
Patients are required to sign consent forms before enrolling in either program.
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