New MIH-CP Initiatives: So What?

Eagles County, Nipissing, Daytona Beach, and more!

February 11, 2025

Your weekly source for sensations in mobile-integrated healthcare and community paramedicine is back, with an all-new design. The goal here has always been to influence to highlight programs and this new aesthetic is to highlight them even further.

This week, as always, we are excited to share with you some of the new premier partnerships in MIH-CP but we want to go further. At the end of this post you’ll find the “So What?” section dedicated to breaking down the stories we cover. We hope this inspires new ideas and debate. Let’s delve into it!

Content Overview:

  1. Eagles County’s New Community Paramedicine Boss

  2. Nipissing’s New Mobile Clinic

  3. Daytona Beach Uses MIH-CP to Tackle Substance Abuse

  4. The Weekly Bonus Bite: How The Most Remote State Uses MIH

  5. So What?

Total: 8 minutes

Before we jump into these articles I wanted to reveal last issue’s quote of the week was from 🥁🥁🥁:

Check it out if you haven’t. This will be our last weekly quote, a little bittersweet, but only because we have something a lot more fun and program-centric for you! Stay tuned 👀 

Promotion!

Steve Vardaman has been promoted to chief operating officer of the Eagle County Paramedic Services District. With a background in EMS since 2002, Vardaman's dedication and leadership have earned him this new role. As COO, he will focus on shaping the district's operational vision to meet the community's needs.

Vardaman's experience includes roles as a paramedic, field trainer, and paramedic supervisor, as well as certifications as a Certified Flight Paramedic and a State of Colorado POST-Certified Reserve Sheriff’s Deputy. In his new position, Vardaman will lead operations in areas such as ambulance transport services, community paramedicine, and tactical medical teams. His goal is to continue providing exceptional care to the Eagle River Valley community.

In Partnership With:

JULOTA

Julota's MIH-CP software empowers community paramedics to deliver smarter, more connected care by simplifying fragmented data and streamlining processes. With real-time patient insights, automated reporting, customizable workflows, secure HIPAA and CFR-42-compliant collaboration, and actionable analytics, Julota enables impactful care and improved outcomes. Designed to bridge healthcare and social determinants of health, it helps your program stay ahead of change.

Innovation

The Clinical Access Mobile Partnership in Nipissing District introduces a mobile clinic in a Mercedes van equipped with specialized equipment and trained paramedics.

This innovative initiative aims to enhance healthcare services by traveling to area communities. Wendy Smith, Executive Director of the Nipissing Wellness Ontario Health Team, highlights the collaboration with various partners to plan different activities for the vehicle.

The mobile clinic features self-sustaining capabilities such as solar panels, lithium battery back-up power, and onboard internet Wi-Fi, allowing for 72-plus hours of sustainability off the grid. The partnership between Nipissing Wellness OHT and District of Nipissing Paramedic Services aims to provide essential services and serve as a command center for large medical events.

Hope

Daytona Beach police officers and medical professionals form the Drug Abuse Response Team (DART) to provide compassion and support to overdose victims. The team, including fire paramedics, nurses, drug counselors, and police officers, offers assistance to victims within 48 hours of an overdose.

Through follow-up visits in plain clothes, DART members aim to make victims feel comfortable in accepting help. The program has successfully helped over 300 victims in the last three years, offering hope and guidance for recovery.

Survivors of overdoses, like Ryno Foster, emphasize the importance of programs like DART in providing support and resources for those struggling with substance use disorder. Through collaboration with medical professionals and recovery organizations, DART plays a crucial role in helping individuals transition from crisis to recovery.

The Weekly Bonus Bite

Ketchikan Fire Department Launches Mobile Integrated Healthcare Program

KFD's new Mobile Integrated Healthcare program aims to provide supplemental support to residents and connect them to appropriate resources. This initiative is a promising step towards a more integrated and accessible healthcare system. 🚑

So What?

Essentially our key takeaways but we know most of you are busy.

Eagles County’s New Community Paramedicine Boss

  • Steve Vardaman, a dedicated EMS professional with over two decades of service at Eagle County Paramedic Services, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer.

  • His deep experience and leadership will likely improve operational efficiency in the community. This could mean better service, faster response times, and enhanced care for residents and visitors.

Nipissing’s New Mobile Clinic

  • People in remote areas who lack easy access to healthcare should care—this mobile clinic brings medical services directly to them, improving healthcare accessibility.

Daytona Beach Uses MIH-CP to Tackle Substance Abuse

  • By providing follow-up care and connecting patients to treatment resources, Volusia County Fire Rescue's Community Paramedicine Team aims to reduce overdose fatalities and support recovery efforts.

  • This initiative is crucial for families and communities striving to combat the opioid crisis.