Community Paramedicine

Community Paramedicine Programs Come to Life in California

December 1, 2021

Jane Smith, Art Hsieh

Improving population outcomes at the street level, one patient at a time.

Sobering Centers Offer Clients Pathway to Stable Lives

September 20, 2021

Bonar Menninger

Homelessness & Health Care, Medi-Cal

A conversation with Shannon Smith-Bernardin, PhD, RN, a national leader in the field.

New Laws Strengthen California’s Response to Mental Health Crises

October 5, 2020

Xenia Shih Bion

Behavioral Health, Medi-Cal

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law four bills intended to improve Californians’ access to mental health and substance use disorder services.

San Francisco Puts Community Paramedics on Front Lines of the Pandemic

Claudia Boyd-Barrett

Homelessness & Health Care, Workforce

It's no easy task to find people who lack shelter, have substance use disorders, and mistrust authorities — and then persuade them to move into a quarantine site.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Resource Page: Community Paramedicine in California

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

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.

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.

Community Paramedicine Delivers Better Care at Lower Cost

The independent evaluator of California's community paramedicine pilot projects explains the findings of this highly anticipated first report.

Community Paramedicine in California

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.

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.