There Is Help Out There: Community Paramedics

When the ambulance arrives at your door it is usually is one of your worst moments. Much like a line from the old TV western Gunsmoke, they are the first person you look for and the last person you want to find. The Wintergreen Rescue Community Paramedicine program’s goal is to prevent that worst moment. Wintergreen Rescue not only serves Wintergreen but all of Nelson County. In addition to serving the Wintergreen community, Wintergreen Rescue also staffs the Nelson County Rescue station in Lovingston. Combined, these stations answered 27921 calls last year.

 Due to the unique health, geographic and financial issues facing Nelson County, Wintergreen Rescue received a grant from Sentara Cares to implement a community paramedic program which serves all of Nelson County. The program is staffed by specially trained paramedics who are experts in both emergency medical management and community paramedicine – public health ambassadors trained to help prevent medical emergencies from happening. The program focuses on prevention which can be translated to identifying and removing fall risks, helping to manage chronic conditions, gaining access to affordable medications as well as access to wide array of community resources such as food, shelter, transportation, durable medical goods and even assistance with pets.

 By offering this free service, community paramedics do house calls to conduct assessments, offer education and help link the patient with the resources they need to optimize their health, get a better control of chronic health conditions, or get over a current health crisis.

What the program does not currently do is wound care, medication administration, diagnosing, prescribing, and at home treatment of medical issues. Although the program personnel are equipped and trained to respond to emergencies this is not an emergency service. Phones and email are not manned 24/7 and visits are by appointment.

There are multiple ways of entering into this program for care. Many referrals are made after you have received care through the EMS system by the EMT’s who may have answered the call to come to your home. Hospitals, local health care organizations and physicians’ offices have all been given information regarding this program and how to enroll patients. Access to the program can also be by self-referrals or from community leaders or friends.

If you want more information or want to make a referral into the program you can call

Tel: (434) 459-9848 or email:cp@wtgfireresq.org and a provider will get back to you as soon as possible.