Bella Vista Fire Department to partner with health system

BELLA VISTA -- Aldermen on Monday unanimously approved a plan for the Fire Department to partner with Mercy health care system to form a community paramedic program.

Fire Chief Steve Sims pitched the program to Mercy over the last year and a half as a way to reduce hospital re-admissions and improve health care for residents. Sims said Mercy was chosen because the health care system expressed interest in the program and Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers handles a bulk of Bella Vista's patients.

Under the program, Mercy would flag patients at high-risk for readmission -- likely those suffering from cardiovascular ailments -- and have them sign up for the program.

Paramedics would then have permission to enter the home of a patient before home health care services begin, which is usually between 24 and 72 hours, Sims said.

The paramedics would educate patients about their discharge paperwork and medications, but also inspect the homes for risk of re-injury and perform a fire safety assessment, Sims said.

"When patients are released from the hospital, often times they feel overwhelmed about what to do during the 24-72 hours they're at home before home health care begins," Sims said. "That panic leads to 911 calls that in turn causes unnecessary ambulance transports, emergency room visit and hospital re-admissions."

Sims said he hopes to have Bella Vista's program running by Sept. 1 or sooner.

The program would need to be in place for one year before serious funding commitments are available and data can be compiled, Sims said. Five paramedics have already been trained thanks to a $12,000 grant from the Mercy Foundation, a branch of Mercy's health care system, Sims said.

The foundation also is supplying a $14,000 grant for equipment expense and mileage. Sims said the paramedics will need things like weight scales to monitor patients for fluid retention and also be able to equip lacking homes with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

Paramedics providing the service will not be working outside of their normal shifts, Sims said, and the care will be provided free of charge to the patient.

Similar programs exist in Fort Worth, Texas, and Mountain Home. Both have been very successful, Sims said.

"This program would be a great asset to the community," Sims added. "It's just another way of providing highest level of care for residents."

Aldermen John Flynn and Frank Anderson at the July 20 work praised the program.

"It certainly seems worthwhile," Anderson said. "We should be a part of it."

Mayor Peter Christie said Monday he believes the preventive angle of the program will be a boon to patients.

"It's a great program," he said. "It's going to make patients more comfortable when they come out of the hospital."

NW News on 07/28/2015

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