HUNTINGTON – Hilltown Community Ambulance Association is announcing its pilot program from its community outreach branch, Hilltown Plus.
Hilltown Plus’ mission statement is to improve the health and lives of our residents by creatively utilizing available resources. The goal is to put EMTs and Paramedics out in the community with residents to highlight the importance of early use of 911 in medical or traumatic emergencies, and also to find ways to assist residents in living in their desired situations.
Hilltown Plus is offering to visit residents of HCAA’s 6 communities (Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Russell, Montgomery and Worthington) and put all of the medical information required in an emergency on a USB drive; a portable data storage device that is accessible from any computer. The information collected will include demographics, medical history, medications, allergies, the patient’s baseline mental status and clearness of speech, a normal set of vital signs, and a baseline 12 lead EKG. The USB will stay with the patient and be accessed by the medical personnel on the ambulance or in the hospital in the event of an emergency.
Technology like this is being offered by for profit companies, without assistance in adding the data, at price points of $35 and up. HCAA is offering this service at no charge; the program is funded by grants received over the last year and is currently able to provide this service to 370 residents. Interested residents do not need to do or provide anything aside from calling and requesting a visit.
This project is the first of its kind in the region, and we have found no similar initiatives from EMS departments nationally. The concept of paramedics expanding their role in their communities is often called Community Paramedicine. In other regions the skills and proficiencies of paramedics are being used to ease the burden on overcrowded emergency departments and primary care offices who are overloaded with patients. This shift in the role of a paramedic recognizes the clinical abilities and sometimes under utilization of modern paramedics, particularly in rural areas or other areas with a designation of Medically Underserved Areas or Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Any resident in the Hilltown Community Ambulance service communities can call Angela at 413-667-3277 to schedule a visit.
