Module 1: Introduction to Community Paramedicine
Community paramedicine is a field of healthcare delivery in which paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) become certified to provide additional healthcare services to patients outside the scope of traditional emergency and first responder services. The goals of these programs are to increase access to primary care for medically underserved populations and to reduce avoidable use of emergency care resources.
This module provides an overview of community paramedicine programs and describes how the community paramedicine model of care functions and benefits rural communities. It also offers an introduction to some of the unique challenges that rural communities face when building community paramedicine programs.
For general information on what to consider when starting a rural community health program, see Creating a Program: Where to Begin in the Rural Community Health Toolkit.