Community Paramedicine Pilot Programs: Lessons from Maine

Authors

Karen B. Pearson MLIS, MA, University of Southern Maine, Maine Rural Health Research CenterFollow
George Shaler MPH, University of Southern Maine, Cutler InstituteFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 2017

Publication Title

Journal of Health and Human Services Administration

Keywords

Community Paramedicine, Emergency Medical Services, Maine, rural, implementation, MRHRC, USM Aging Initiative, Health and Wellness

Abstract

Community paramedicine programs are beginning to flourish across the nation, and the need to provide demonstration or pilot programs is essential to providing a consistent and high-level standard for this model of care. While the overarching goals are to align with the Triple Aim, piloting a community paramedicine program also allows each community to develop and implement a program tailored to the healthcare needs of their specific community. A successful program builds the evidence base that can then be used to create legislative change necessary to financially sustain this model of care across the healthcare delivery system. This article provides a discussion of the healthcare needs of people living in rural areas and of the ways in which community paramedicine can address some of those needs. This article begins with a discussion of legislative authorization and characteristics of the Maine community paramedicine pilot program, the general strategies for implementation, and lessons learned from these programs. A case study of a Maine community paramedicine program provides an example of key implementation strategies along with structural and operation functions of the program that may be useful for other community paramedicine pilot sites looking to implement a community-based health care program.

Included as one of four articles in the Symposium on Community-Based Health Care, edited by Alexander Henderson. The purpose of this symposium is to provide a venue for the exploration of central issues in community-based care, including program implementation, interorganizational relationships, and clinical provider education. The articles in this symposium contribute to the ongoing conversation on Community Paramedicine/Mobile Integrated Health emerging in clinical medicine, operations research, and practitioner-based publications.

Comments

The publication contract grants individual rights to share these articles to institutional repositories and to personal websites. The online version is available at http://jhhsa.spaef.org/

Recommended Citation

Pearson KB, Shaler G. Community Paramedicine Pilot Programs: Lessons from Maine. Symposium on Community-Based Health Care. J Health Hum Serv Adm. 2017;40(2):141-185.