COLUMBIA, TN — Maury Regional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) recently introduced a new program designed to help patients better manage their health conditions at home.
According to EMS Director Brian Hupp, the new Courtesy Care Call program provides a free in-home visit following hospital discharge for patients who qualify based on their diagnosis. The program currently provides support to patients who are managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure.
“By ensuring that patients have the support and resources they need to manage their health, this program can provide a more seamless transition from the hospital to home and help prevent hospital readmissions,” Hupp said.
The program is the result of a grant received by Maury Regional Health from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of its telehealth network grant program.
Patients who qualify for the program are informed by a member of the care team prior to discharge. Following discharge, a staff member from Maury Regional EMS will contact the patient to schedule a home visit. During the visit, a paramedic or nurse practitioner will check the patient’s vital signs, provide education about the patient’s health condition and confirm any follow-up appointments that may have been scheduled. The staff member can also assist with coordinating referrals to other services — such as home health, wound care and dietary consultations — and help obtain certain types of home medical equipment, such as blood pressure monitors, scales and glucometers, which would be provided through grant resources.
“The new Courtesy Care Call service is another way that Maury Regional Health puts our patients first: working to ensure their health and safety after they leave the hospital,” said Maury Regional Health CEO Alan Watson. “I am pleased that our EMS team has taken the lead to offer this initiative for our recently discharged patients.”
If any concern about the patient’s health should be noted during the home visit, the EMS staff member would arrange a teleconference with a physician or nurse practitioner to determine additional steps. Transportation to the emergency department could be provided if necessary.