Community Paramedics Patient Assessment

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

Medication Administration

• 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

Mental Health Support

• 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

Wound Care

• 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 Health Education

• 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

Lab Values

• 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

Patient Assessment

• Community paramedics assess patients in their homes or community settings, considering:
  • Medical history and current condition to identify potential health risks
  • Vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, pulse rate) to detect abnormalities
  • Physical examination to identify any signs of illness or injury
  • Medication reconciliation to ensure accurate medication lists
  • Adherence to medication regimens to prevent complications
  • Social and environmental factors (e.g., living situation, support system) affecting health outcomes

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

Mental Health Support

• 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

Wound Care

• 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 Health Education

• 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

Lab Values

• 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