Paramedicine Comes to Putnam

Putnam County launched its community paramedicine program last week, providing needed care in patients’ homes, reducing unnecessary 911 calls and hospital transport for non-emergency conditions. Putnam’s community paramedicine/mobile integrated healthcare program will be administered by Empress, which has provided the county advanced life support services since 2023.

“We are excited to collaborate to close healthcare gaps and deliver essential services directly to our community,” said County Executive Kevin Byrne, who was joined by Putnam’s Director of Emergency Medical Services Robert Cuomo and Empress EMS Executive Director Robert Stuck, in announcing the start of the initiative. “These professionals will deliver public health, primary care, and preventive services directly to residents’ homes, with a focus on seniors, homebound individuals, and people with chronic conditions.”

The move builds on the county’s $2.8 million annual investment in paramedic services. Putnam is the first in the state to centralize paramedic funding at the county level. The county adjusted some Empress resources to cover costs of the community paramedicine unit, which aims to ease strain on emergency systems, improve access to non-urgent care, and create long-term cost savings through more efficient use of emergency resources.

Paramedicine services can include wound care, medication adjustments, blood draws, chronic disease management, fall prevention, and telehealth consultations. One of the main goals of community paramedicine is to keep patients from returning to the hospital for follow-up care – accelerating recovery and enhancing overall health.

“This initiative is about meeting people where they are, safely at home with the care they need,” said County Legislator Nancy Montgomery, D-Philipstown. “I thank County Executive Byrne, EMS Director Cuomo, Rob Stuck, and all of Empress for their leadership – and especially the paramedics, volunteers, and first responders who have served Putnam County with such dedication for so many years.”

Legislator Laura Russo, R-Patterson, called the program a smart, compassionate investment in the health of residents.

“By bringing care directly into people’s homes, we are improving outcomes for seniors and families while reducing strain on our emergency system and saving taxpayer dollars,” she said. “I’m proud to support an initiative that puts patients first and positions Putnam County as a leader in innovative, community-based healthcare.”

“This is the first county program in the state of New York,” added Stuck. “It’s proactive and community based, it’s family and patient centric, and it will fill those gaps in care that have traditionally existed in our current system.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, about 40 percent of emergency department visits involve patients who could be treated effectively in nonurgent care settings.

At least 40 states have launched mobile-integrated health or community paramedicine programs.

“The launch of community paramedicine marks a crucial, forward-thinking step, promising significant impact on patient well-being through in-home care and a reduced strain on our emergency department,” said Keyur Ajbani, Putnam Hospital’s vice president of medical affairs. “We’re proactively improving community health, preventing crises, and leveraging telemedicine for immediate patient improvements.”

Community paramedicine expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic due to a need for ample COVID testing, providing vaccines, and keeping elderly and immunocompromised residents out of emergency rooms and hospitals. Empress’ community paramedics were called on and became the first in the state to vaccinate homebound individuals and were responsible for more than 200,000 COVID-19 vaccinations.

“By reducing unnecessary ambulance transports for non-critical conditions, this program ensures patients get the proper care in a timely manner,” said Cuomo. “It also supports safe recovery at home, improving health outcomes through collaboration with our hardworking first responders.”

During his time in the State Assembly as ranking member of the Health Committee, Byrne championed legislation that allowed for the creation of community paramedicine programs in local governments. He is expected to testify before the State Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee Meeting on Health on Feb. 10 in Albany, about the county’s community paramedicine program.