Winter Park launches community paramedicine program

Most 911 calls result in a trip to the hospital, but what about the calls that aren’t true emergencies? 

Winter Park launched a new pilot program Monday, April 24, that will help the city’s fire rescue department take better care of residents who need help but aren’t in immediate danger. The community paramedicine program allows the fire department to tend to residents who frequently call 911 to receive medical attention or help. 

The program would allow a civilian paramedic to tend to residents who frequently call, making sure their needs are being met, medications are being taken and that vitals are being monitored. 

“We’re not in a position to take over their health care,” Fire Chief Jim White said. “If they’ve been given a health maintenance plan, medications or practices and they have an inability to do it or a lack of knowledge, that ends up resulting in a 911 call in some cases. This person — this program — would be that bridge that intervenes between the 911 call and the citizen’s problem.” 

The number of calls for service has increased — from 2,454 in 2015 to 2,682 last year. About 30% of calls the department receives are cases in which someone simply needs help but isn’t transported to a hospital. White stressed his department wants to help any resident who asks for help but that calls that aren’t emergencies can prevent or delay the department’s response to other needs. 

“We want those units to be able to handle 90% of the calls that they’re geographically supposed to handle,” White said. “This is a nationwide issue.” 

Through the program, the fire rescue department will partner with entities such as the Winter Park Health Foundation, Florida Hospital and GuideWell Health to assist those who still need someone to come to their home. 

White said connecting residents with those organizations would help cut down on 911 calls and thus improve response times. 

The program will cost no more than $100,000, he said. 

Commissioner Peter Weldon said a pilot program made sense to test the response. Other commissioners agreed, voting for a six-month program open to residents who have called 911 more than once within a year and didn’t need to be taken to a hospital.