The rapidly evolving field of mobile integrated healthcare, or community paramedicine, has become a hot topic among those in EMS in and fire service. The system of services is meant to address key issues such as the rising fees of ambulance transport, labor shortages in EMS and health care costs; and it is changing the way health care is administered and delivered in many cities.
Columbia Southern University hosted A Future in Paramedicine, a webinar discussion and Q&A session hosted by Jeannie Riner, CSU’s lead faculty for fire, emergency medical services and CSU graduate Landry Merkison. Merkison is the fire chief and EMA director for Clayton County (Georgia) Fire & Emergency Services.
In this pre-recorded webinar, Riner and Merkison discussed the role of community paramedicine in today’s emergency services environment. Riner led the webinar in discussing the pros and cons, models, barriers and opportunities in this field. Merkison reviewed the efforts of his fire station’s community paramedicine system.
