Marion County, City of Ocala Honor Community Paramedics for Transforming Health Care Access

November 19, 2024 — OCALA, Fla. -- Marion County leaders took steps Tuesday to honor the growth and positive impact of two local paramedicine programs that are breaking down health care barriers for the region’s most vulnerable residents.

Ocala Fire Rescue introduced its Community Paramedicine program in partnership with AdventHealth Ocala in 2020 and Marion County Fire Rescue introduced its program in 2021. AdventHealth Ocala has given more than one million dollars in support of both programs since their inception.

The programs’ missions are to cut health spending, support uninsured and underinsured residents who lack access to primary care, help those who frequently rely on 911 services and check in on patients who are often readmitted to the hospital soon after their initial discharge.

Recognizing these programs’ life-changing impact on access to care, the Mayor of Ocala and the Marion County Board of County Commissioners have proclaimed Tuesday, November 19, 2024, as Community Paramedicine Recognition Day.

This program serves patients with debilitating conditions that often require ongoing care and treatment by providing in-home visits and health assessments. These community programs are grounded in community-wide interventions aimed at disease prevention and promoting health and wellness.

“We are extremely grateful to the paramedicine professionals who are working hard every day and going above and beyond to help and care for so many members of community,” AdventHealth Ocala President and Chief Executive Officer Erika Skula said. “We also want to thank the City of Ocala, Marion County and their Fire Rescue agencies for their partnership and constant support over the years. We are blessed to be part of this community. We are committed to supporting those who live and visit here and providing them with exceptional whole-person care for many years to come.”

The Community Paramedicine program also provides patient-centric services such as homeless outreach, public health collaboration, falls assessment, readmission avoidance and care coordination. All program initiatives integrate multiple providers made up of both clinical and non-clinical roles to support the community’s vulnerable patients

Access to health care, particularly primary care services, is a growing concern within the Marion County community. Primary care providers are in short supply and the uninsured population is on the rise. As a result, there has been high use of emergency services.

For example, Marion County reports that many 911 calls and emergency room visits could be avoided. These cases often involve patients seeking emergency treatment for conditions that could have been managed or prevented by a primary care provider.