Fla. Doctor Says Community Paramedicine Program Will Reduce ER Visits
March 24--BRADENTON -- If Manatee County rolls out a new community paramedic program June 1 and starts handling 911 calls differently, it will dramatically reduce emergency room visits, the head of the county health department said Wednesday.
"I think it is a very innovative approach to keeping persons out of the emergency room if they don't need to be there," Dr. Jennifer Bencie, administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Manatee, told the Manatee Healthcare Advisory Board during its fourth meeting in the county administrative building.
The board is charged with coming up with ways to best care for Manatee's medically needy population, including finding a dedicated revenue stream.
Bencie and key staff members combined to present a comprehensive picture of what the health department does, explaining its foremost role is prevention and wellness. It does not offer primary care services.
Since 2008, Manatee County has reported a 37 percent increase in 911 calls seeking primary care services while the population increased only 9 percent from 2010-14, according to county statistics.
Under the new program proposal, community paramedics helping patients asking for primary care for frequent falls, diabetic episodes, congestive heart failure, chronic respiratory conditions and mental health and substance abuse would link them with the most appropriate resources, Bencie said,
"The emergency rooms are very busy and they don't have enough time to go into that counseling mode that we hope this type of program would provide," Bencie said. "The paramedics, for example, will be linking up with pharmacy students and professors from Lake Erie College of Medicine and Centerstone of Florida will be assisting them so there will be a mental health component. Manatee Memorial Hospital will also help so there will be a diagnostic component."
Bencie's endorsement of the paramedic program came after she was asked her opinion of what the county could do to help the underserved.
"I believe we are resource rich in Manatee but we need to link our resources," Bencie said. "The paramedic program is a great example. You have people who use the emergency room for many reasons, and we are trying to find a way to link them into more appropriate resources, and we have them, but it's linking them that is needed."
Bencie also said dental care is a desperate need for every county in Florida.
Stephen Hall, elected chairman of the board Wednesday, is a certified employee benefits specialist. He said he endorses the community paramedic program.
"I think it's cool and makes a lot of sense," Hall said. "The challenge we have and local hospitals have is the ability to triage certain situations so we can find out if the best solution is to go to an emergency room or other areas of the community that can best serve that. I think it's a good idea."
Philip Brown was named vice chairman and Lori Dengler secretary of the board. Hall said the board is moving slowly but surely.
"I think it is moving along nicely," Hall said. "We are getting a good view of the organizations that are helping corroboratively to help the citizens who don't have a voice. Our backs are against the wall. We ran out of funding. I think because of that something is going to be done."
Board members also include Beverly Hindenlang, Thomas Skoloda, Kirk Zeppi, Ray Fusco, Dominique Kohlenberger, Mildred Isom, Henry Raines, Ernest "Sandy" Marshall, Brown, Dengler and Hall.
Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7072 or contact him via Twitter@RichardDymond.
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