A new way of delivering emergency care is discussed in New Hampshire

April 21--With more patients hoping emergency crews can treat their conditions without taking them to the hospital, a new conversation is happening about emergency care, said Nick Mercuri, bureau chief at the N.H. Bureau of Emergency Medical Services.

Welcome to the concept of "mobile integrated health care," a potential model of care where trained emergency responders would respond to an emergency call, and if the patient's needs are basic, deliver treatment for basic calls themselves.

In this style of care, more registered nurses or nurse practitioners could be included on staff, Mercuri said, so there is medical expertise coming to patients.

"It's us taking care of the community," he said. "We need to keep people healthier."

Right now, he noted, the two options available to patients who need medical attention are either go in the ambulance or to refuse medical care.

"This is a third option," he said.

Some ambulances, like Peterborough's municipal ambulance, already have trained medical professionals on staff. In addition to 15 critical care paramedics on staff, they also have five registered nurses who respond to calls.

Mobile integrated care is still in the early stages, but it's being discussed at the state level.

That's a hopeful sign, said Phylis Manning, chairman of the board of directors on the volunteer Marl-Harris Ambulance Service, which serves the town of Marlborough.

Manning teaches EMT training classes, and she said she sees no shortage of people interested in becoming emergency responders; however, she said she also sees people concerned they won't be able to find a good job in the profession.

"Students are always asking me, 'Where can we work?,' " Manning said. "Those are hard questions. I train a lot of people, and I can't guarantee they're going to get a job."

For her part, Manning says she thinks mobile integrated care will help expand the job pool.

"Folks will see EMS evolving," she said. "It's going to be a whole evolution. People can't afford to go to the emergency room."

Ella Nilsen can be reached at enilsen@keenesentinel.com or 352-1234, extension 1409.

Copyright 2014 - The Keene Sentinel, N.H.