Community Paramedicine in California - California Health Care Foundation

Community Paramedicine in California
A locally designed, community-based model of care, community paramedicine enables collaborations between emergency medical service and other health care and social service providers. Community paramedics complete specialized training and work under medical control as part of a local team of providers.

How San Diego Is Protecting Its Homeless Population from COVID-19

Homelessness & Health Care, Workforce

The pandemic prompted local leaders to swiftly establish one of the nation's largest shelters and apply painful lessons learned from the region's 2017 hepatitis A outbreak.

External Resource

Healthforce Center at UCSF: Evaluation of California’s Community Paramedicine Pilot Program

The California Emergency Medical Services Authority has sponsored a pilot project under which specially trained paramedics perform duties beyond their traditional roles of responding to 911 calls, transporting patients to emergency departments and performing inter-facility transfers. Healthforce Center at UCSF is conducting an evaluation of the pilot project that was funded by the California Health Care Foundation. The latest update was published on January 27, 2020.

Left Behind in California: Comparing Community Paramedicine Policies Across States

Janet Coffman, Connie Kwong

This overview of state laws governing community paramedicine across the US can inform California's efforts to build upon its ongoing pilot community paramedicine project. Read the brief and explore an interactive map of the US to learn about legislation in each state.

Community Paramedicine in California: Overview of Pilot Projects

California is piloting the use of community paramedicine to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of health care delivery. Specially trained paramedics are partnered with other providers to meet local health care needs. These one-pagers describe the six concepts being piloted throughout the state.

Resource Page: Community Paramedicine in California

A comprehensive list of resources for keeping track of California's community paramedicine pilots.

In Their Own Voices: California’s Community Paramedics Tell Their Stories

Avram Goldstein

Workforce, Behavioral Health

A new form of care has taken hold in forward-looking emergency medical services agencies: community paramedicine. Across California, community paramedics in locally designed pilot projects are demonstrating different ways to prevent emergencies and connect people to the right care at the right time.

California’s Community Paramedicine Program Improves Care Delivery

December 15, 2017

How does community paramedicine work in California? The director of the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) explains a series of pilot programs and how the state's residents can get the most benefit from the program.

Community Paramedics Hit the Streets in Stanislaus County: An Early Look

Paramedics can help people in crisis without a ride to the ER. Stanislaus County's community paramedics show the challenges they overcome to deliver effective mental health care.

Community Paramedicine Projects Continue to Deliver Big Benefits

Evaluation by UCSF shows that California's community paramedicine pilot projects have improved coordination between providers, reduced preventable treatment, and resulted in no adverse outcomes for patients. (Evaluation highlights released May 2018.)

Community Paramedicine: San Francisco Pilots Sobering Center as ED Alternative

Through close collaboration, trained paramedics in San Francisco successfully diverted patients from the emergency department to the San Francisco Sobering Center.

Community Paramedicine: A Promising Model for Integrating Emergency and Primary Care

Kenneth Kizer, Karen Shore

Can paramedics improve the efficiency of emergency resources and enhance access to primary care for the medically underserved through a new model of care called "community paramedicine"?

Community Paramedics Team Up with Hospitals to Reduce Readmissions

Community paramedics are checking in on patients recently discharged from the hospital, reducing their likelihood of readmission.

Rescuing Hospice Patients

December 20, 2016

Serious Illness & End-of-Life Care, Workforce

Ventura County is testing a new partnership between 911 paramedics and the hospice system to better care for patients with terminal illnesses.

Designer of Paramedicine Pilot Says Safety Is Job One

September 14, 2017

Avram Goldstein

Behavioral Health, Workforce

The architect of California's most successful community paramedicine pilot project explains why these projects should be permitted all over the state.

How Community Paramedics Rescue People from San Diego’s Streets

September 21, 2016

Under a statewide pilot project running in 12 California jurisdictions, San Diego paramedics provide vulnerable people with lifesaving care — without taking them to hospitals.

City of Alameda’s New Community Paramedics Use Compassion to Deliver Results

November 19, 2015

Mike DeWindt, Steve Lucero

Alameda is one of 13 California jurisdictions that created a community paramedicine program this year under a state pilot program. Two paramedics explain how it works.

How California Community Paramedicine Became a Priority for CHCF

October 19, 2016

The project manager of community paramedicine pilot projects and CHCF's vice president for external engagement explain how this new approach reduces demand for emergency care and hospital admissions.

January 23, 2017

Sacramento Briefing — Community Paramedicine in California

January 23, 2017

Community paramedicine (CP) is an innovative and evolving model of community-based health care designed to provide more effective and efficient services. Hear about California's CP pilot program.