b'Petersen, project director for WMH and public healthand make your way to the doctor is a relief for them, program administrator at the Partnership for Public HealthTunstall adds. Our Impact (PPH). Even if you cant fix everything, its having someone who can speak on her behalf. Thats been soThe goal of WMH is to reduce unnecessary ambulance MEETING meaningful to her. rides and emergency room visits, easing the burden on local providers. In its initial 12 months, the numbers show The advocate to whom Petersen refers is her colleague,that the program is making a dent. Petersen and Tunstall PATIENTS Tunstall, the supervisor of MIH for Laconia Fire Department,report that the CHW program has received nearly 100 who was hired to build the position and serve as theclient referrals, while Tunstall has completed more than WHERE community paramedic for WMH. In their complementary200 in-person patient encounters with about 60 unique roles, Petersen is responsible for coordinating communityindividuals and made 92 referrals to social services. partners, completing grant deliverables, and overseeing THEY ARE the Community Health Worker (CHW) program. The collaborative approach between CHWs and paramedics takes individual patient needs into account. When Tunstall WMH was established through a 3-year, $750,000 grant toidentifies social needs during medical visits (transportation, PPH from the Health Resources and Services Administrationfood stamps, housing assistance), for example, she refers and provides CHW and community paramedic servicespatients to Petersen and Pakasuk. Meanwhile, CHHS in the region. Tunstall handles the clinical and medicalprovides crucial support through electronic medical record aspects of patient care, including offering hands-onaccess; medical oversight through EMS Medical Director medical services, ranging from taking vital signs andJosh Morrison, DO; and programmatic and paramedic administering wound care, to fall prevention and chronicsupport from EMS Coordinator Craig Clough. Director of diseases management. She also conducts comprehensivePopulation Health Diane DavisandCommunity Health Asked to consider their work with Winnipesaukee Mobileevaluations during initial visits to identify medical andCoordinator Gwen Whitney-Gillwork with the CHWs, Health (WMH), Emma Petersen and Winnie Tunstall pointsocialneeds of the patients, who primarily include thefocusing on primary care office coordination and managing to the same patient as an example of how the community- elderly, the homeless, and others who face significantsocial determinants of health for patients struggling with based healthcare program is making an impact in the barriers to accessing traditional health care. Medicare/Medicaid assistance.Lakes Region. For patients, the WMH model offers convenience withWhile no plans are in place yet, both Petersen and Tunstall This particular patient made a high number of visits toproactive, patient-first preventive care brought directlyare hopeful that the first-year success of WMH will lead CH-L, seeking treatment for a variety of chronic issues. Butto them. While Tunstall and CHW Faith Pakasuk typicallyto an expansion of staffmore community paramedics since receiving careand compassionthrough themake visits to patients homes, they also hold follow-upin particularand reach beyond Laconia to more Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) program, the patientsappointments at Isaiah 61 Caf in Laconia, a nonprofitneighboring towns.hospital visits have dropped by about 80 %.kitchen and shelter that offers a range of services. Were not following an algorithm, Petersen says. We can meetCommunity health workers and community paramedicine This is someone whod been to the emergency room morepeople where they are. are broad and flexible terms, which is fantastic, Petersen than 60 times over the course of the year, and suddenlysays. Its all about meeting the needs of the communities she had someone she felt could advocate for her, someoneJust being able to get to a patient and say, We can dowe serve in a way thats most beneficial to them.she could count on to call her back and show up, explainssome of this here. You dont have to pack everything up 20 CONCORD HOSPITAL HEALTH SYSTEM |Patients First'