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Meeker County officials highlight community paramedic program; responder reports 1,600-plus visits
Summary
The county’s community paramedic described his visiting, preventive and advanced life-support work, including more than 1,600 calls to date, follow-ups for people at risk of self-harm, and a recently obtained Lucas mechanical CPR device.
Mike Moller, Meeker County’s community paramedic, briefed the Board of Commissioners on May 20 about the program’s scope, saying he has responded to more than 1,600 calls since the program began and took more than 260 calls in the current year.
“Basically what this program does is brings services to those that don’t qualify under insurance, especially if they are not homebound,” Moller said, describing wellness visits, medication management, wound-care support and other non-emergent care that aims to reduce unnecessary emergency-department use.
Moller said he works by referral from primary care clinics or the hospital system; his medical direction and protocols come from a medical director, Dr. Jeff Hull, who performs weekly check-ins and case reviews. Moller also carries advanced-life-support (ALS) equipment so he can supplement volunteer rescue squads and local ambulance services when required.
The program has supported high-acuity incidents as well as preventative work. Moller described aiding a shooting victim in Lake Lillian and coordinating care that local officials said helped that patient survive. He also described follow-up visits for people identified as at risk of self-harm and said his non-uniform presence can make follow-up conversations easier for some individuals.
The sheriff’s office and county staff praised the program’s contributions. County officials noted a recent grant award that supplied automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and a Lucas mechanical CPR device for ambulance and law-enforcement use; Moller said the Lucas unit is the latest version and that its kit and batteries cost roughly $22,000.
Officials said the program increases ALS capacity in the county and helps keep people from recurring emergency use by addressing medication adherence, wound care and social-service connections. No new board action was required; commissioners heard the presentation and thanked Moller and his colleagues.
