In one of my previous blogs, I talk about how the fire service has done an excellent job of reducing the number of fires in their communities through the efforts of their fire investigators, inspectors, and prevention personnel and programming; collectively called, Fire Prevention. Considering that 90% or more of the calls for service each year for most fire agencies are not fire in nature, but instead a combination of emergency medical and public assist calls, isn’t it time we establish something like an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Prevention Division? Humor me and read on:
EMS Investigations: a team of highly-trained, specifically-certified people dedicated to investigating why a particular person or facility or neighborhood is having a particular set of problems such as: respiratory illness, frequent falling, medication errors, transportation barriers, lack of housing or food security. This team compiles their information into a meaningful report and passes the information onto the rest of the team for further action. If there are facilities that are mistreating their patients, or people that are committing elderly abuse, or if there are barriers to accessing primary care or housing or food or transportation, these issues would be well documented, empowering effective advocacy and accountability through the various channels for correction.
EMS Prevention: a team of highly-trained, specifically-certified people dedicated to preventing illness and injury in our communities armed with data from first response documentation and the EMS Investigations reports. They would provide targeted education and training to the community, such as: how to prevent diabetes, heart disease, strokes, drownings, falls, vehicle accidents, and more. Rather than fire exit drills they would be providing healthy diet, exercise, and rest modules. Rather than teaching CPR at local pools, they would be mandating and facilitating the installation of pool gates and safety alarms to prevent drowning in the first place. They would be testifying before the legislature regarding unsafe practices in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, ensuring patients receive the care and attention they deserve. They would advocate for a more comprehensive public transportation model that didn’t require 2-hours and 8 bus changes to get somebody to their job, each way. They would advocate for affordable housing and against food deserts and lack of primary care.
EMS Inspectors: a team of highly-trained, specifically-certified people dedicated to ensuring neighborhoods, apartment complexes, medical facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and schools are following the best practices identified through the EMS Investigations findings…that people are safe from medication errors, fall risks, and healthcare and social service practices more interested in profits than patient outcomes. Just as Fire Inspectors have the authority to assess fines and close unsafe buildings, EMS Inspectors could be so empowered.
This is Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) in Fire Services. MIH is simply using patient-centered, mobile resources in the out-of-hospital setting for improved community outcomes. The Fire Service is well-positioned to provide these services for three main reasons: 1. publicly funded services have an obligation to do the right thing regardless of reimbursement or financial profits; 2. preventing illness and injury in the community is the right thing to do; 3. if you do nothing, it’s only going to get worse and our current models can’t support that.
What are your thoughts about an EMS Prevention Division a.k.a. Mobile Integrated Healthcare in the Fire Service? Leave your comments below:
Sarah J McCrea-Dameron 