Every call to 911 is a call for help, but not every call is a medical emergency.
Clackamas Fire’s Community Paramedic Program links patients with the community services they need. The program aims to fill in the gaps, advocates for community members, and provides a platform for health equity that facilitates a healthier Clackamas County.
The community paramedic follows up with at-risk patients through a phone call or home visit to find out what’s behind the multiple calls to 911. In addition to a medical assessment, there is a home safety survey to prevent falls and other risks.
Types of assistance:
- Access to care – Increase access to care through agency referrals
- Alcohol and drug Misuse – Identifying and engaging those surviving an opioid overdose or suffering from a substance use disorder with recovery resources, peer recovery mentors, and barrier reduction/removal (This portion of the program is called, Project Hope).
- Outreaches – Referrals for planned and emergent outreaches are made by fire agencies, law enforcement, Clackamas Mental Health Center (i.e., crisis center), Adult Protective Services, hospitals, and any County agency or community-based organization that feels a community member could benefit from additional services. These outreaches provide medical direction, referrals, barrier identification, and assistance to access resources. The partnerships with county and community-based agencies increases opportunities to provide health equity to populations that traditionally go underserved and have poor health outcomes.
The goal is to help clients remain in their home, safe without the need for emergency medical care.
All our services are free to residents of Clackamas Fire
Patient Referrals
Firefighters often call for a community paramedic to assist them on a scene or may refer a patient for follow-up services. Hospitals and social services may also make referrals.
Family members of patients we’ve seen on 911 calls can also contact our program to ask for assistance.
Program Staffing
Our team includes two Community Paramedics and two EMTs who are available from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Community Partners
Clackamas Fire partners with Clackamas County Public Health and various social services agencies that can provide patients with assistance that is often less costly and more effective than medical services in meeting their true needs.
Clackamas Fire partners with many governmental, private, and non-profit agencies to provide the care and services our clients need. One such partnership is with Clackamas County Public Health. Together we operate Project Hope, a program that helps reduce overdose risk in our community.