Prisma's Mobile Integrated Health Blueprint

Table of Contents

• Trivia!

  • $89M in funding makes Ontario community paramedicine program permanent

  • Public health at the front door: An MIH model to emulate

  • S.C. county rolls out community paramedicine to curb unnecessary 911 calls

Permanence

Ontario has earmarked CA$89 million to establish its community paramedicine program as a permanent fixture, particularly focusing on supporting seniors and First Nations communities. This move reflects recognition of the program’s role in enhancing access to healthcare and addressing care equity across diverse populations. The funding enables sustained delivery of paramedic‑led community health services, likely including in‑home monitoring, chronic care follow‑up, and non‑emergency support tailored to high‑needs groups. By institutionalizing the program, Ontario is aiming for long-term health system efficiencies and improved outcomes for vulnerable populations served by paramedics in non‑traditional roles.

Tips

This piece highlights Prisma Health’s mobile integrated healthcare (MIH) initiative, where community paramedics go beyond emergency response to address addiction, rural healthcare gaps, and chronic illness through data‑driven, compassionate outreach. Hosted by Rob Lawrence on the EMS One‑Stop podcast, it features discussions with key Prisma Health staff—Luke Estes (MIH director), Dr. Mirinda Gormley (epidemiologist), and paramedics Wes Wampler and Parker Bailes—on building trust and delivering tailored care outside traditional hospital settings.

The program reframes EMS as proactive public health agents, engaging communities where they live and with empathy and evidence guiding interventions. Among the memorable insights: generational shifts in care delivery, the importance of reducing hospital readmissions, and a leadership philosophy centered on empowering frontline staff with the tools they need. It’s a vivid example of modern EMS evolving into a community‑centric healthcare solution

New Program

Dorchester County, South Carolina, is launching its first community paramedicine program on August 11, 2025, designed to reduce non-emergency 911 calls and ease emergency department crowding. Community Paramedic Angelina Johnson will lead efforts to assess patients’ underlying needs—whether connecting them with mid‑level providers or clinics—and offer tailored solutions rather than immediate transports. EMS Chief Joe Crowder emphasized that many 911 calls stem from low‑acuity needs in underserved areas like Saint George and Ridgeville, and the new model aims to fill that gap efficiently.

The initiative leverages Johnson’s growing network of local healthcare contacts to apply community‑based care strategies and reduce reliance on emergency services. It’s an early but promising example of shifting EMS from purely reactive to responsive, community-oriented care.