Welcome to the Pioneers in Health podcast. In this podcast, we share inspiring stories of pioneering leaders from our nation and from your backyard who are working to improve health.
He is a strong advocate for the profession and finding new ways to bring innovative therapies into the pre-hospital setting.
In this episode, he discusses the role of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics. He also discusses the differences between the two and misconceptions that exist about the industry as a whole, such as that most states don’t recognize them as essential services — despite the fact the public does.
“There’s a common misconception across the majority of human beings that when they call 911, they are guaranteed to have a resource show up to their doorstep,” he said. “That’s just quite simply not the case.”
He also discussed that while many states don’t recognize EMTs and paramedics as health care providers, about 80-85% of the calls they respond to are for routine primary care — not emergency care. People often call 911 for blood pressure checks, pain from toothaches, running out of medications or wanting mental health care but not sure where to start.
In response to this, he said his ambulance district expanded to adopt a new service line to address these types of calls without transporting patients to a hospital emergency room. The new “wing” of care utilizes mobile integrated healthcare and community paramedicine to leverage the skills of EMTs, paramedics and other health care providers to provide primary care in a person’s home.
Not only can they provide certain levels of medical care, but they can also make assessments, help connect patients with appropriate resources and providers, and reduce the number of unnecessary visits to emergency departments. The goal is to ensure patients receive the “right care, in the right place, at the right time,” Justin said.
“If you have a toothache, an emergency ambulance response and transport to the emergency department is not the right care and in the right place,” he said.
This model of care is helping fill gaps in the current health care system, especially when it comes to maternal health care in rural communities. Nearly 46% of Kansas counties are defined as maternity care deserts, which means there are no obstetric providers or hospitals or birth centers that offer obstetric care.
There’s a misconception that people aren’t delivering babies in rural communities anymore, he said, but that’s not true.
“We might not have a delivering facility, we may not have a hospital with an OB department anymore, but we deliver babies all the time in our rural communities,” Justin said. “It just so happens they’re in people’s living rooms, in the back of the ambulance or on the side of the highway.”
He discusses how his mobile integrated healthcare team is helping fill the gaps in maternal health for these rural communities. There are misconceptions that mobile integrated health care and community paramedicine teams are going to take away home health and hospice jobs. Justin said that’s simply not true.
“I always come back and say ‘Nope, I get more referrals, and we work closer with them than I ever dreamed of,'” he said. “I promise you there is plenty enough work to go around. We’re not looking to take anyone’s jobs. We’re here to fill gaps.”
He also discusses:
His journey into becoming an EMT and then paramedic
The roles of EMTs and paramedics and the differences between the two
How these professions are categorized and reimbursed at the federal level
How most states do not recognize emergency medical services as an essential service, though most people assume it is and expect services to arrive upon calling 9-1-1
How mobile integrated health and community paramedicine and are helping fill gaps in care
Developing relationships with local community health centers, or Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other partners to provide the best patient care when and where it’s needed
How state and federal policies, which also impact reimbursements, are currently the largest barriers to community paramedicine and mobile integrated healthcare programs
How care changed during the pandemic, allowing paramedics to provide care at home in order to limit visits to the hospital
And much more! Listen now, and learn more about how Justin is an innovative leader in health care.
Listen now
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Please see the Pioneers in Health page on our website for more information on our podcast series and links to other episodes.
