WASHINGTON COUNTY, Idaho 鈥� A new paramedic-led program in rural Washington County is aiming to improve mental health crisis response while easing pressure on law enforcement and EMS resources.
Weiser Ambulance District Paramedic Ashley Lynn leads the newly launched community paramedic program, an initiative by Southwest District Health that鈥檚 being described as the first of its kind in Idaho, the reported.
鈥淭he two worst places for someone in crisis to go is the hospital and jail,鈥� Lynn said, citing crisis intervention training. 鈥淐urrently, that鈥檚 our only option.鈥�
DOWNLOAD | eBook: How to fund community paramedicine
Southwest District Health launched the community paramedic program earlier this year. Although still in its early stages, the program has already sparked interest from other rural counties exploring how to implement similar models.
Idaho faces a shortage of emergency medical services, which rely heavily on volunteers and receive no guaranteed state funding. Lynn said the Weiser Ambulance District has operated on the same budget for the past 20 years.
Currently, only one ambulance is staffed with a paramedic each day. While a backup crew is available, she noted, 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have extra resources to go out and sit with someone who鈥檚 experiencing a crisis.鈥�
The Washington County program operates on a referral basis and is funded by a five-year grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, according to Young of Southwest District Health.
The grant is now in its second year, with the first year primarily focused on laying the administrative groundwork for the program.
Looking to navigate the complexities of grants funding? Lexipol is your go-to resource for state-specific, fully developed grants services that can help fund your needs. Find out more about our grants services here.
