EMS has always been expected to be the jack-of-all trades, responding to calls of all kinds and frequently finding themselves in unique situations. But despite immense technological advances in both prehospital and hospital care, patients continue to fall through the cracks–and that’s where community paramedicine comes in.

The Community Paramedicine (CP) Program at Lancaster EMS was formed back in 2016. In its first year, they saw 99 patients. Today, they see around 1,000 monthly. Safe landings serve as the basis of our program. These visits are ‘follow ups’ after hospital stays, which consist of patient assessment, hands-on medication reconciliation, referrals to community resources and assistance with scheduling appointments and transportation. Additionally, we also offer in-home wound care, blood draws and same day wellness.

Check out this video to learn more about who we are and what we do!

Our Partnerships

It wasn’t long before the CP Program started building strong connections in the community. Our first partner was AmeriHealth Caritas. In addition to offering our traditional services, we also began offering safe landings for patients upon discharge from behavioral health hospitals and created a New Parent Program. Our New Parent Program includes safe landings for mom and baby, review of pregnancy and parenting education, car sear checks and childhood/infant CPR, first aid and choking certification for up to two caregivers. In continuation for caring for the next generation, we also began offering lead screenings and education, as well as childhood immunizations.

Our next partnership was formed in 2018 with Lancaster General. We provide their patients with follow ups regardless of insurance, offering in-home lab draws, same day wellness checks and case management referral for any diagnosis. Two years later in 2020, we began teaming up with United Healthcare and Highmark Wholecare, providing safe landing visits, in-home blood drams, wound care, lead screening and education for kids and childhood vaccines. Two years following that, we add Highmark Wholecare Medicaid, providing patients with safe landing visits, in-home blood draws and wound care. Our latest partnership was formed with Preformcare in 2023

In The Community

While the CP Program has grown strong ties with various healthcare partners in the County, we’ve also created a strong presence directly in the community.

In December of 2021, we launched Refresh Lancaster: a mobile hygiene unit outfitted with two large shower stations and a Community Paramedicine medical office. In conjunction with offering free showers, we also provide hygiene supplies and medical care to individuals experiencing homelessness. Refresh Lancaster is set up in areas with high rates of homelessness and intentionally positioned near social service hubs to facilitate connection to other recourse. Our crew is out in the community five days a week at six different locations across Lancaster County. In addition to the work with Lancaster’s unhoused population, Penn Medicine and Lodge Life services recently launched The Fredrick House–a crisis housing program–in partnership with us. The program launch in August of last year and has already begun to change lives!

While we may have already cemented our presence in the community, our work thus far is just the beginning. We will continue our mission of building healthier tomorrow for Lancaster County and beyond.

Check out what we’re up to!