Overview
Under the direction of the township’s medical director, Dr. Eric Cortez, this program is an extension of the 9-1-1 service. It allows paramedics to operate in expanded roles by assisting with public health, primary healthcare, and preventive services to underserved populations in the community. The goals are to improve access to care and avoid duplicating existing services.
Our community paramedic program is here to provide a more efficient and proactive solution for those lacking primary care and resort to 9-1-1 and emergency medical services (EMS) in non-emergency situations. By working in a public health and primary care role, they address residents' needs, ensuring that healthcare is accessible and timely.
While there are differences from program to program, our community paramedic generally focuses on the following:
- Providing and connecting patients to primary care services.
- Completing post-hospital follow-up care.
- Integration with local public health agencies, home health agencies, health systems, and other providers.
- Providing education and health promotion programs.
Our community paramedicine program stands out for its unique provision of services unavailable elsewhere in the community. This feature ensures that our residents have access to comprehensive healthcare services specifically tailored to their individual needs.
Our community paramedics are trusted and respected for their medical expertise and emergency care. They also play a crucial role in addressing unmet needs for primary care services in the community. They are generally welcome in patients' homes, and their skill set is equally valuable for providing primary care services.
If you are a resident of Jackson Township, the City of Grove City, or the Village of Urbancrest and want to learn more about our program, you can email
CARES@jacksontwp.org or call our CARES line at (614) 991-6861.