The partners for establishing a Community Paramedic program include:

• Emergency services (lead)
• Other first responders- Henderson County Sheriffs Office, Hendersonville Police Department, Fire Departments (collaborate)
• Hospital Emergency Departments (collaborate)
• Henderson County Department of Public Health (support)

Establishing a Community Paramedic was identifed by the Behavioral Health Summit as an action, that when combined with other actions in our community, has a reasonable chance of making a difference in mental health outcomes in Henderson County. When established, this will be a new program in the community.

A Community Paramedic (CP) is a paramedic with specialized training in behavioral health issues (mental health and substance use). The CP offers case management in addition to co-responding to behavioral health calls. Learn more about the role and potential of a Community Paramedic in a neighboring WNC county: http://www.mcdowellem.com/community-care.html

The customers for the Community Paramedic include any community member who utilizes EMS services, particularly those who lack support and/or transportation to receive care. This program aims to make a difference at the organizational and individual levels as it addresses the impact on emergency services and hospital emergency departments as well as individual gaps and barriers to appropriate care. 

Community Paramedic was selected as a new strategy to address mental/behavioral health in Henderson County late in 2022. Henderson County EMS, AdventHealth Hendersonille, Pardee UNC Health Care, and the Department of Public Health have been collaborating to advocate for funding, and sustained support to establish a community paramedic. We are still in the very early stages of planning for this strategy. Performance measure data and Story Behind the Measure will be reported for the Community Paramedic when funded, staffed and actively running. 

The Community Paramedic Program has been presented to the county manager and county commissioners along with a request to fund two Community Paramedics for FY2024.  

The need for this program has also been identified in Henderson County’s Strategic Plan for the Opioid Settlement Funding: “Additionally, the establishment of a Community Paramedicine program would serve as a “bridge” to connect individuals to treatment and resource options. Leveraging the accessibly and specialized training of paramedics within the community will offer outreach at critical windows to engage individuals with treatment. Employing the already-existing infrastructure of the County’s EMS team will expand access to evidence-based treatment programs, while establishing increased coordination on the continuum of care for Opioid Use Disorders.”

Performance measure data and Story Behind the Measure will be reported for the Community Paramedic when funded, staffed, and actively running.