2023 ANNUAL REPORT-FINAL

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EMERGENCY SERVICES

Emergency Medical Services Office (continued)

Mobile Community Healthcare

The Mobile Community Healthcare (MCH) Program is an integrated, collaborative effort that is designed to provide resources to the visitors and residents of Frederick County through two specialty programs, including the Community Paramedicine program and the Community Outreach and Support Team (COAST). These two programs work effectively together to improve the health and wellness of those who visit or reside in Frederick County. The MCH Program staff receive referrals from a multitude of partners, with a great majority originating from the County’s Fire/Rescue personnel. In 2023, Fire/Rescue personnel made 465 referrals to the MCH Program. Of these referrals, clinicians remained most concerned about their patient’s lack of adequate self -care, as well as their patient’s general lack of resources. Additionally, for the second consecutive year, clinicians overwhe lmingly identified an inability to complete activities of daily living as a leading factor in making the referrals. However, they also identified loneliness and social isolation, physical environment concerns, and substance use as contributing factors as well. In 2023, the Community Paramedicine Program saw growth and expansion as the MCH Program received funding for a second ALS Clinician. MCH Program personnel responded to 51 Community Paramedicine incidents and assisted several others using telephonic and care team collaboration methods. Participants in this program received a comprehensive assessment of their social determinants of health, and interventions related to home safety recommendations and referrals to other allied health and community partners. Additionally, the Community Paramedicine program absorbed the efforts of the COVID program into its routine operation. Through its community vaccination initiative, MCH Program staff vaccinated 21 residents in Frederick County in 2023 who faced challenges with transportation and mobility. A total of 20 doses of COVID vaccine and 6 doses of influenza vaccine were administered prior to the formal close of that initiative mid-summer 2023.

The COAST Program, which is a collaboration between the Frederick County Health Department and Frederick County Fire Rescue, was the beneficiary of a grant from both the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in 2023, totaling nearly $2 million. This funding will support the educational needs of the Frederick County Fire Rescue responders, career and volunteer, as well as hire additional staff and a response unit to increase the program’s o perational hours. The grant award will also help fund other initiatives designed to provide critically needed social support to members of the community who use drugs and alcohol. In 2023, members of the COAST Program responded to 125 incidents, and provided 38 referrals to harm

reduction services, including the distribution of 24 doses of Naloxone. Team members encountered 77 people and provided them all with the opportunity to speak with the Health Department’s Peer Recovery Specialist, who can provide enhanced information on substance use treatment and recovery resources.