Community paramedic is making a big difference
By Terry Murry on Friday, December 10th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – Since the Walla Walla Fire Department began its paramedicine program in May, Community Paramedic Cody Maine has been busy meeting people where they are and providing personalized assistance or referring them to a more appropriate resource. Working in partnership with Providence Population Health, the program is designed to reduce avoidable ambulance runs and divert unnecessary visits to the Emergency Department at Providence St. Mary Medical Center.
The one-year pilot program is funded by Providence and is being viewed as a better way to use available resources to provide a suitable level of care for non-life-threatening conditions. It explains options for those who are ill and react by either calling an ambulance or visiting an emergency room when they should have opted for a less intensive and costly measure of care.
Currently, Maine is the only community paramedic the fire department has.
“We are hoping through some grant funding in the works to add another next year,” WWFD Chief Bob Yancey said.
From May 3 to July 31 the total number of emergency room diversions were 44 which amounted to a savings of $105,600, according to the Walla Walla Fire Department. The total number of mobile integrated health visits completed during that time was 146 and the time on scene ranged from 4 to 67 minutes with the average length being 32 minutes.
Yancey said he doesn’t have second quarter numbers yet, but that the WWFD plans to make another presentation regarding the community paramedic program to city council in January or February.
Currently, Maine is working to build a supply of coats, winter hats, gloves, winter boots, sleeping bags and sleeping mats to have on hand to offer to people in need. He’s also looking for durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, grab bars or power chairs. The Walla Walla Fire Department invites community members to donate any items they may no longer need to a fire station or give them to a local social-service agency.
Photo: Community Paramedic Cody Maine
