Call the Cops The 27th Most Trusted Site in Public Safety
Public Safety has always be a re-active service. People call 911 and first responders react to the call. But a new program in select cities will make EMS become a pro active service in healthcare and wellness of citizens.
The idea is to make Ambulances sitting post out in the community into preventative care clinics. In this concept what will start pilot testing in five markets across the US next week, paramedics are being trained in health screening techniques. The screenings are not a full check-up, but do provide important diagnostic wellness data.
Currently the plan calls for the paramedics to check blood pressures, resting pulse, collection of measurements to calculate BMI and body fat percentages. Additionally the medics will be able to give finger prick blood draws for cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and to get glucose levels, but only in people who have fasted before the visit. Finally the ambulance crews will interview the patient about family medical history, alcohol use, tobacco use, and sedentary lifestyle habits.
Chris Roberts is EMS director for on the location that will be doing the pilot testing. “Heart disease is the number one killer in this country. People are not getting check ups as often as they should. Even if they are getting a check up the doctor may not order blood work unless the patient comments about symptoms. All too often this does not happen. So our medics during down time will do this. We can then tell people if they need to go see a doctor, or give them literature on lifestyle changes so minor issues do not get worse.”
Critics point out the police and fire do in fact try some pro-active techniques.
Advocates for the program point out how pro-active programs used by police and fire have had such little impact. Fire prevention programs are only put on at limited times. So-called community policing methods have not been shown to actually lower crime rates; just increase likelihood of crimes being solved. But this program is likely to have a real impact, and could be income producing for EMS.
“Community policing and fire prevention cost agencies extra monies and bring nothing in.” According to Director Roberts, “My agency will be charging $15 for the screenings. I am already paying me people whether they are busy or not, so my cost for a check up is low.”
Depending on how the initial pilot testing goes the program could expand to both more cities and in scope of care. Mr. Roberts closed our interview saying, “My ultimate dream would be to hire a few nurse practitioners to become part of my EMS crews. This simple issues like sinus infections, or other common ailments can be diagnosed and non-narcotic prescriptions can be issued.”
