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South Texas Emergency Care reports steep drops in emergency use after community paramedicine visits
Summary
South Texas Emergency Care told the Harlingen commission that its Community Paramedicine program reduced emergency department use among graduates by 36% and EMS use by 52%, and described related child-safety-seat inspections and a pediatric ‘baramedic’ plush-toy program.
South Texas Emergency Care (STEC) briefed the Harlingen City Commission Aug. 20 on the Community Paramedicine program, reporting measurable reductions in emergency department and EMS usage among participants and describing new safety initiatives for children and vulnerable adults.
STEC coordinator Mackenzie Curl (introduced by her presenter) told the commission the program focuses on high utilizers — defined as people who use the emergency department three or more times in 12 months or use EMS with high frequency — and provides in-home medical follow-up and social-support referrals. “Our graduated patients have had a reduction in emergency department use of 36% and a reduction in EMS use by 52%,” the presenter said.
The group also described a new child safety-seat program funded by a recent grant: staff certified as child passenger safety technicians have inspected 25 seats this year and supplied 16 free seats to eligible families, and the program is available as a resource to hospitals for newborn discharge. STEC said it has reintroduced a plush-animal program for pediatric and dementia patients to reduce stress during 911 transports.
Commissioners praised the programs and thanked partner agencies including Harlingen Medical, Valley Baptist and the Harlingen Police Department. The commission and STEC discussed expanding the program’s reach within Harlingen and Cameron County.
Attribution: Presentation and outcome statistics were reported by STEC staff as part of the formal quarterly report to the commission; commissioners’ comments and praise are recorded in the meeting transcript.
Next steps: STEC said it plans additional community events in partnership with local hospitals and police; commissioners expressed support for continued coordination and monitoring of program outcomes.
