Dr. Michael WilcoxOctober 2015

SIM-EPLC LEARNING TEAM

DISCUSSION

THE ACCESS DILEMMA RURAL AND REMOTE

1/4 of Americans live in rural and remote areasOnly 10% of America’s doctors practice there4 times as many rural and remote residents travel > 30 miles for health care compared to urban residents

RURAL AND REMOTE DEMOGRAPHICS

More elderly More immigrants More poverty Poorer health

Expand role, not scope Assess and identify gaps between community needs and servicesImprove quality of life/health

THE COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC PROGRAM

VOLUNTEER AND PAID PARAMEDICS

EMTs/Paramedics already know how to deliver care locally

Assess resources and make decisions

They can fill gaps in care with enhanced skills through targeted training

EXPANDED SERVICES

Primary careEmergency care Public health Disease management PreventionWellness Mental health

KEYS TO COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC PROGRAM

GAP-FILLING

FLEXIBLE

RESOURCEFUL

SERVING THE UNDERSERVED

FLEXIBLE

Identify specific needs in community health care

Standardized curriculum, modified for communities

ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE UNDERSERVEDTarget populations with

problems in access to health care

Address special population issues

Rising health disparitiesAging Decreasing medical workforce

RESOURCEFUL

Identifies what is availableAnd what is missing

GAP-FILLING

Creates “health home” for citizensEyes, ears, and voice of community

COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC GUIDELINES

Essential oversight by community care providers

Practice where designated underserved

Approved and welcomedFunding specific to locale

CARING FOR HIGH-RISK PATIENTS

Patients taking 10 or more medications

Patients who have tight therapeutic window medications such as “warfarin”

Patients who have 3 or more chronic diseases

Patients with Mental health and disabling conditions

HENNEPIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE - TRAINED BY LOCATION

Florida

Minnesota

Maine

Canada Nova Scotia

Washington

North Dakota

Nevada

Idaho

MissouriKansas

New Jersey

North Carolina

Kentucky

Saudi Arabia

COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC TRAINED OR IN TRAINING

Spring Program 2008 Metro & Outstate MN8

Fall Program 2010 Rural5

Spring Program 2012 Metro12

Fall Grant Class 201318

Fall Program Class 2013Metro & Out of State 20

Spring Program 2013 Metro, Outstate MN24

Spring Grant Class 201324

Spring Northern MN 201313

Fall Program 2013 Metro, Outstate24

Fall Grant Class 201330

THE COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC PROGRAM

Level 1 -- Non-paramedic filling some roles of the Community Paramedic

Level 2 – Certificate or Associate Degree

Level 3 -- Bachelor’s degree

CURRICULUM IS IN PLACE

Standardized multi-module delivery model

Applicable across America and internationally

14 credit certificate

CONTENT

Chronic disease managementCardiac, respiratory, diabetes , neurological

Pathophysiology PharmacologyMental healthText books

CURRICULUM PHASE II

Clinical Skills @ 196 hours

THE CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

Primary careCommunity Health/Hospice

Wound careBehavioralCardiology & respiratoryPediatrics & geriatricsNetworking

Questions?

Michael Wilcox M.D., FACEP, FAAFP

mwilcox3090@yahoo.com

612-803-2912