UPMC Hanover has one of the few hospital-based non-transport, advanced life support units in the area—Medic 46. Following a 9-1-1 call, the unit brings medically trained personnel to the incident location. On-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, this health professional team consists of paramedics and pre-hospital registered nurses. Medic 46 vehicles are extensively equipped with the same apparatus found in the hospital’s Emergency Department. Medic 46 responds to a variety of emergencies: chest pain, stroke, severe car accident injuries, drug overdoses, diabetes, asthma and other severe cases.
Dispatched by the local 9-1-1 communications center, Medic 46 covers 25 municipalities throughout the South Western quadrant of York County, the Eastern area of Adams County, plus mutual aid coverage to Gettysburg and western York County areas.
When a patient is discharged from the hospital, everything can seem like a blur. There are instructions for medications, diet, medical conditions and follow-up appointments. It can be hard to keep track of all the information. This confusion can lead to repeated emergency room visits or readmissions, especially for those with multiple chronic medical conditions.
The Community Paramedic Program is a free service designed to help our patients in this often difficult transition from hospital to home. Identified by the hospital care team – care managers, social workers, nurses or physicians – patients who agree to be part of this program receive follow-up visits at home from UPMC Hanover’s designated paramedic staff. These visits will occur usually within 24 to 48 hours of discharge and then regularly for up to four weeks, to help patients understand discharge instructions, answer any questions the patients may have, help the patient to adhere to treatment goals and reduce the risk of a readmission.
During the initial home visit, the paramedic will review discharge instructions, perform physical assessments and make sure prescriptions have been filled, medical equipment is functioning and doctor appointments are scheduled and can be kept. The paramedic may assess the environment for safety and make the patient and family aware of additional services in the community. In addition, the paramedic will relay any significant information or changes, as well as a visit summary, to the patient’s primary care provider. Patients do not need to be homebound to receive these services. In contrast to their more traditional role as emergency medicine providers, the paramedics will not provide treatments unless ordered by the patient’s physician.
For more information, please call 717-316-7989.
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