Treating Chronic Diseases and the Elderly

From Idaho to Ontario: Community Paramedics Step Up with Smarter Tools, Broader Roles, and Life-Saving Campaigns

June 18, 2025

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Hi there,

This week, we’re spotlighting how paramedicine continues to evolve by bringing care to the doorstep, tackling mental health crises with new tools, and catching chronic conditions before they escalate.

From rural Idaho to suburban Ontario, these programs reveal how flexible, community-rooted models are reshaping emergency response and public health. Plus, don’t miss the first-year milestone of OSU’s tech-integrated initiative and a campaign that’s treating chronic conditions and literally saving limbs.

Content Overview:

  1. Trivia

  2. Rural Idaho Trains Paramedics for Mental Health Crisis Response

  3. The Weekly Bonus Bite

  4. Peel’s Paramedic Chief Shares Community Care Update

  5. Save a Leg’ Campaign Targets Early Amputation Prevention

    Total: 2 minutes

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Training

In May, veteran paramedic Ashley Lynn responded to her first incident as part of Washington County’s new community paramedic program in rural Idaho, driving a patient to call Idaho’s 988 mental‑health crisis line and staying until specialized help arrived . The program, funded by a five‑year federal SAMHSA grant, enables paramedics to spend extended time on-site during behavioral crises, aiming to divert individuals from traditional hospital or jail settings.

Operating with limited resources, only one staffed ambulance per day, paramedics previously couldn't stay longer at non-medical scenes due to backlog fears. The initiative is referral-based and uses an unmarked vehicle to de-escalate situations in comfortable environments, sometimes staying for over an hour at a scene.

The program also offers paramedics a new career path beyond emergency calls, addressing burnout and expanding their role. Following its launch, neighboring counties have expressed interest, and similar programs in Ada County have already significantly reduced law enforcement involvement in mental health crises .

Oklahoma State University’s CEAT Community Paramedicine Program marked its first year of operations, implementing emergency medical services that integrate engineering, architecture, and technology to deliver care in rural and underserved areas.

The initiative uses innovative vehicle designs and telecommunications systems to connect paramedics with remote medical experts, addressing health disparities. The program also collected data on response times, patient outcomes, and cost savings to evaluate its effectiveness and guide future enhancements .

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.

Accessibility

Peel Region’s 2024 Community Paramedicine Program, presented June 6, expands paramedics’ roles by delivering preventive and follow-up health care directly in homes, with a focus on older adults and vulnerable residents. In 2024, the program registered 518 individuals for high-intensity supports, conducted 748 pre‑long-term-care home visits, and completed 1,760 wellness checks in community housing buildings. Community paramedics also partnered with Trillium Health Partners and William Osler Health System to facilitate in-home diagnostics and integrated care connections. These initiatives help bridge care gaps—especially for seniors without primary care providers—while reducing hospital and ER reliance . The program operates with Ontario government funding through March 2026, and leaders are seeking sustainable support to scale services. Peel’s Health System Integration Committee emphasizes the importance of virtual care, coordinated partnerships, and equity-focused care through paramedicine

Flexibility

The "Save a Leg, Save a Life" initiative, led by a Florida-based nonprofit, launched its first screening clinic in Mobile last weekend to combat peripheral artery disease (PAD) and chronic wounds . The mobile clinic aims to detect PAD early, offering screening and education to prevent non-traumatic amputations and improve outcomes for patients with diabetes and vascular conditions .

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