💵 How Much Does Community Paramedicine Save?

Table of Contents:

• Trivia

• York Region and Georgina Island First Nation Unite to Bring Lifesaving Paramedicine Services Closer to Home

• New Braunfels’ MIH Program Cuts 911 Calls by ~80%, Saves Over $500K for Community

• Paramedics Take Charge: Field-Begin Treatment with Buprenorphine in North Carolina’s Overdose Response

Read time: 4 minutes

Collaboration

The The Regional Municipality of York (York Region) has partnered with the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation to expand its Community Paramedicine Program onto Georgina Island. The expanded service offers a weekly, community-based clinic focused on managing chronic health conditions and improving referrals to other local health-care providers. The partnership is framed as a step toward implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada recommendations, supporting Indigenous self-determination and culturally-appropriate health supports.

One of the key challenges addressed is the island’s limited access to emergency and non-urgent care due to restricted ferry hours and winter ice conditions on Lake Simcoe. York Region has submitted a funding proposal to Ontario Health to further expand services, including the purchase of an ambulance, enhanced on-island staffing, rescue equipment and satellite communications.

Impact

The City of New Braunfels’s Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program, led by the fire department and launched with philanthropic support, was recently awarded the Texas Municipal League’s Municipal Excellence Award for its innovative public-health approach. Instead of relying solely on 911 responses and emergency transport, MIH teams conduct follow-up home visits, educate patients with chronic conditions, and link them to primary care and social services — thereby shifting from reactive crisis care to proactive health management.

In one cohort of 59 patients tracked in fiscal 2024, the program achieved an estimated 79% reduction in subsequent 911 calls, with projected cost savings surpassing $500,000 for the city’s fire department and broader healthcare system. By reducing non-emergency calls and hospital readmissions, first responders have more capacity to focus on true emergencies, while vulnerable residents receive more holistic and timely care.

Looking ahead, the city plans to expand the program’s scope to include mental-health partnerships, enhanced chronic-disease management and tech-enabled patient monitoring, aiming to further strengthen both health outcomes and system efficiency.

New Program

In North Carolina, roughly 30 emergency medical services (EMS) agencies have been approved to administer the opioid-dependence medication Buprenorphine on-site, aiming to intervene directly after overdoses or during addiction crises. Traditionally, paramedics’ role ended after administering Naloxone to reverse an overdose and offering transport, but repeated calls to the same individuals prompted a shift toward initiating longer-term care pathways. The program acts as a “bridge” for up to seven days, stabilizing patients and linking them to outpatient treatment providers, which is especially vital in rural areas with few prescribers. Early data show promising uptake: in one county, paramedics initiated 118 patients and 104 followed up at clinics, with over two-thirds still engaged after 30 days. Challenges remain, including ensuring adequate outpatient treatment availability and long-term engagement, but many believe this practice may soon become a standard part of EMS care.