CLEVELAND — University Hospitals (UH) and the city of Richmond Heights recently announced the launch of a new resource for staying safe, healthy and out of the hospital.

What You Need To Know

  • University Hospitals (UH) and Richmond Heights announced the launch of the Community Paramedicine Program on Tuesday

  • The program aims to improve the overall health and well-being of the community by providing skilled healthcare in the home, according to a press release

  • The Community Paramedicine Program is made possible by a grant from UH

The Community Paramedicine Program aims to improve the overall health and well-being of the community by providing skilled health care in the home, according to a press release by UH on Thursday. 

According to the press release, a paramedic from the Richmond Heights Fire Department will visit residents directly in their homes and provide a wide range of services, including:

  • Education about chronic illness

  • Assess and increase home safety

  • Enhance independence for seniors living in their homes

  • Connect residents to medical and social services resources

  • Identify and close gaps in clinical or social needs

  • Post-hospital release follow-up care, including coordinating needed physician and hospital appointments

“University Hospitals has made community health investment a key aspect of our strategic plan, including putting in place programs to promote health equity and keep people healthy at home,” Heidi Gartland, chief government and community relations officer at UH, explained in the press release. “We have a legacy of caring for our community beyond the walls of our health system, and this program is a perfect example of that commitment in action. By addressing the needs of the Richmond Heights community through the Community Paramedicine Program, we can help residents prevent illnesses and accidents, teach them how to manage complex chronic health conditions and connect them with the necessary resources to improve their overall health outcomes.”

At the city council meeting on Tuesday, members passed a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a memorandum of understanding with UH for the program, which is made possible by a grant from UH, according to the press release. Through the agreement, UH will provide medical oversight, clinical protocols and ongoing quality review as well as medical director, Dr. Tony Daher.

“The community depends on the 911 system, but in some cases, they may not need a trip to the hospital,” Marc Neumann, Richmond Heights Fire Chief, stated in the press release. “Instead, they may need outreach, fall prevention in the home and assistance coordinating where to go for their medications or how to administer them. These are more public outreach community paramedicine rather than 911 activities. In general, when we look at the fire service, we like to talk about fire prevention. Fire is probably 12% of what we do. The other 88% is Emergency Medical Services (EMS), so this program is all about EMS prevention – thwarting the incidents before they occur and getting our residents the help they need to be more independent in their homes and the community. It should also help reduce hospital readmissions and costs for our community members.”

According to the press release, UH has demonstrated its commitment to the Richmond Heights community through the implementation of this paramedicine program as well as community support sponsored by the UH Richmond Wellness Center that includes biometric screenings, a walking club, health education sessions and a Q&A with a registered dietitian. Programs like these benefit underserved residents adversely impacted by diseases, health disparities and socioeconomic barriers to optimal health.

“We are proud to support the rapidly evolving field of community paramedicine that is individual-centric to serve our residents best,” Richmond Heights Mayor Kim A. Thomas, said in the press release. “This proactive health model not only helps residents, but it helps save money and avoids unnecessary strain on our first responders, emergency rooms and other care partners by alleviating some of those issues by helping people in their homes.”

At Tuesday’s meeting, UH also donated items to the city including 100 bicycle helmets and eight automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which can be lifesaving for people experiencing cardiac arrest.

“The first link in the chain of survival is access to an AED and citizen CPR. Having people skilled and trained in CPR and how to use this device is the first link in the chain of survival,” Chief Neumann said.