Community Paramedics Patient Assessment

Community paramedics assess patients in their homes or in the community, focusing on:
- Medical history and current condition
- Vital signs and physical examination
- Medication reconciliation and adherence
- Social and environmental factors affecting health
Assessment tools may include:
- Electronic health records (EHRs)
- Mobile health technologies (e.g., telehealth platforms)
- Standardized assessment forms and protocols

Community paramedics may administer medications in the community, including:
- Vaccinations
- Injections (e.g., insulin, antibiotics)
- Oral medications (e.g., antibiotics, pain management)
Medication administration protocols may include:
- Verification of medication orders and dosages
- Patient education and instruction
- Monitoring for adverse reactions and side effects

Community paramedics provide mental health support and referrals, focusing on:
- Crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques
- Suicide prevention and risk assessment
- Connection to community mental health resources and services
Mental health support may include:
- Brief interventions and counseling
- Referral to mental health professionals and services

Community paramedics provide wound care and management, including:
- Wound assessment and documentation
- Debridement and dressing changes
- Infection prevention and management
Wound care protocols may include:
- Use of sterile techniques and equipment
- Medication administration (e.g., antibiotics)
- Referral to wound care specialists and services

Community paramedics provide health education and resources to patients and their families, focusing on:
- Chronic disease management (e.g., diabetes, hypertension)
- Healthy lifestyle promotion (e.g., nutrition, exercise)
- Disease prevention and health promotion
Health education methods may include:
- One-on-one instruction and counseling
- Group education and workshops
- Distribution of educational materials and resources

Community paramedics may collect and interpret lab values, including:
- Point-of-care testing (e.g., blood glucose, INR)
- Venous blood sampling and lab analysis
- Interpretation of lab results and reporting to healthcare providers
Lab value interpretation may include:
- Identification of abnormal or critical values
- Notification of healthcare providers and patients
- Adjustments to treatment plans and medication administration

Community paramedics may administer medications in the community, including:
- Vaccinations to prevent infectious diseases
- Injections (e.g., insulin, antibiotics) to treat specific conditions
- Oral medications (e.g., antibiotics, pain management) to manage symptoms
Medication administration protocols involve:
- Verifying medication orders and dosages to ensure accuracy
- Educating patients on proper medication use and potential side effects
- Monitoring for adverse reactions and side effects to ensure patient safety

Community paramedics provide mental health support and referrals, focusing on:
- Crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to manage emergency situations
- Suicide prevention and risk assessment to identify vulnerable individuals
- Connection to community mental health resources and services to facilitate continued care
Mental health support may include:
- Brief interventions and counseling to address immediate needs
- Referral to mental health professionals and services for ongoing support

Community paramedics provide wound care and management, including:
- Wound assessment and documentation to track healing progress
- Debridement and dressing changes to promote wound healing
- Infection prevention and management to prevent complications
Wound care protocols involve:
- Using sterile techniques and equipment to prevent infection
- Administering medications (e.g., antibiotics) to treat infections
- Referring to wound care specialists and services for complex cases

Community paramedics provide health education and resources to patients and their families, focusing on:
- Chronic disease management (e.g., diabetes, hypertension) to prevent complications
- Healthy lifestyle promotion (e.g., nutrition, exercise) to reduce health risks
- Disease prevention and health promotion to improve overall well-being
Health education methods include:
- One-on-one instruction and counseling to address individual needs
- Group education and workshops to reach larger audiences
- Distribution of educational materials and resources to support learning

Community paramedics may collect and interpret lab values, including:
- Point-of-care testing (e.g., blood glucose, INR) to rapidly diagnose conditions
- Venous blood sampling and lab analysis to identify underlying conditions
- Interpreting lab results and reporting to healthcare providers to inform treatment plans
Lab value interpretation involves:
- Identifying abnormal or critical values that require immediate attention
- Notifying healthcare providers and patients of lab results and recommended actions
- Adjusting treatment plans and medication administration based on lab results