Homebound Starke County residents may soon have easier access to routine medical care. EMS Director Travis Clary says he’s seeking up to $25,000 from the Indiana Department of Health for community paramedicine.
“We find that there’s a lot of need for transportation for some of these people,” Clary told the Starke County Commissioners Monday. “So let’s say the elderly or whatever, we can actually go out there, provide a device to telemedicine back with a doctor, and he says, ‘Hey, I want you to draw this lab work,’ and we can draw blood, all that, take that back. The patient never has to leave their home.”
Clary said the arrangement could also help the hospital by reducing readmissions that may not be covered by Medicare. “It could be a win-win,” he said, “reducing ambulance calls, just going out and helping people get their medications in order and preventing those slips, trips, and falls.”
Recently, the EMS Department helped to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to homebound residents. Clary said that effort wrapped up last week.
