Originally posted on EMS1.com, Apr 13, 2017
After the city of Taos, New Mexico’s effort to recruit physicians to its town failed nearly 20 years ago, the town adopted a program that expanded the role of EMS personnel and extended health care services to meet the needs of its most disadvantaged citizens. The success of the Taos Red River Project, caught the attention of other towns in both rural and urban areas.
In 2015, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians conducted a survey and found that more 100 EMS agencies have launched community paramedicine or mobile integrated health care programs in over 33 states and the District of Columbia. In addition to filling the gap in health care services in these communities, these programs have reduced out-of-pocket health care costs and expanded access of patient care services.
