DigitalCommons@PCOM

Community Paramedicine to Proactively Combat Opioid Overdoses

Philadelphia, PA

The growing problem of opioid overdoses has traditionally been combated with a reactive approach. In New Castle County, DE, a Community Paramedicine program has been implemented to make an attempt at stopping overdoses before they happen. Community Paramedicine is a mobile integrated health program that trains paramedics to visit and treat high risk patients at their homes on a non emergent basis. The aim is to prevent acute exacerbation of chronic disease. In other jurisdictions, this model has been used in an effort to reduce abuse of the 911 system and Emergency Department by "high utilizers" of the 911 system. Opioid addiction fits this model well: it is a chronic disease that has acute flare ups (overdoses) that are acutely life threatening. In addition to the standard treatment that addicted patients receive, visits are made to their home. A team of both a paramedic and a social worker visit the patient, both assessing/treating the patient medically as well as training family members on naloxone administration. This program differs from other addiction treatment models because it allows easier access to care for patients. This study is a feasibility assessment utilizing census data to pinpoint the locations that would be ideal to focus efforts for a pilot program of a Community Paramedicine program. Zip codes that contained the highest proportion of high utilizers were identified and recommendations were made to assist the county government with targeting efforts to make the greatest impact.