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From community paramedics coaching dementia patients through care transitions, to health systems deploying EMS teams for at-home non-emergency care, MIH programs across the country are proving that the right care, delivered in the right place, can reduce ER strain and improve outcomes. Now, with the Rural Health Transformation Program's $50 billion investment on the horizon, the opportunity to scale these models, particularly in underserved communities, has never been greater.
The stories in this edition show what's possible when EMS leads the way.
Table of Contents:
Paramedics as Care Coaches: Home Visit Program Shows Promise in Keeping Dementia Patients Out of the ER
New Jersey First: Virtua Health Deploys Paramedics for At-Home Non-Emergency Care to Cut Hospital Visits
Mississippi's $100 Million Moment: Why EMS Is the Key to Transforming Rural Healthcare
Read Time: 3 minutes
New Initiative
A new study finds that a program using trained community paramedics to visit the homes of dementia patients following hospital discharge has the potential to improve post-discharge outcomes and reduce avoidable emergency department visits. Known as the Community Paramedic-led Transitions Intervention (CPTI), the program involves a home visit and three follow-up phone calls within 30 days of discharge, using a coaching model to help patients and their care partners build the skills and confidence to manage their health and navigate the healthcare system.
CPTI is part of a larger nationwide clinical trial called ED-LEAD, funded by a $55 million NIH grant, which is testing three interventions across 14 health systems and 79 emergency departments, with 40 sites assigned to the community paramedic approach. Researchers emphasized that community paramedics are particularly well-suited for this role given their clinical training, experience in home-based care, and strong community ties. The study positions CPTI as a potential model for other health systems and emergency medical service agencies seeking to improve at-home care for people living with dementia.
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New Program
Virtua Health, South Jersey's largest health system, has launched a Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program that enables its paramedics and EMTs to provide non-emergency care in patients' homes and coordinate directly with their doctors and care teams. Virtua is the first organization in New Jersey to be licensed to operate an MIH program, which runs 24/7 and is currently supported by about 35 care provider, including 12 full-time staff, and a fleet of five dedicated vehicles.
The program offers both scheduled and unscheduled visits, with a care provider able to request a patient visit within a specified window, such as one to two hours, 24 hours, or 48 hours after referral. MIH is designed to address unmet medical, behavioral, and social needs — particularly for patients navigating difficult care transitions or with limited access to timely follow-up — with the goal of reducing avoidable hospital admissions and ER visits. Looking ahead, Virtua plans to expand the program to include a collaboration supporting people recovering from opioid overdose, providing home-based follow-up and physician-directed medication treatment.
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The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in July 2025, created a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, positioning Mississippi to receive at least $100 million, and potentially $200 million, if it can demonstrate measurable improvements in patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency. The article makes the case that EMS should lead this transformation by expanding into Mobile Integrated Health and Community Paramedicine, managing chronic conditions at home, and building a statewide coordination center to improve patient routing and reduce ER strain.
With Mississippi's 2024 passage of HB 1489 providing a reimbursement framework for on-scene treatment and alternative transport destinations, the author argues the funding, legislation, and opportunity are all aligned — but success will hinge on data-driven accountability and a willingness to reimagine EMS as the backbone of rural healthcare delivery