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Onslow community paramedics report nearly 1,000 patient contacts, seek better data systems and new vehicles
Summary
Community paramedics reported 997 patient contacts since July 1, described undercounting caused by fragmented documentation across ESO, SharePoint and Excel, and said opioid settlement funds will buy Gelato (a HIPAA-compliant cloud platform) and quick-response vehicles to improve continuity of care and reach remote roads.
Wendy Mancuso, battalion chief for Onslow County community paramedics, told the SOAR team that since July 1 her unit recorded 997 patient contacts involving overdose responses, follow-up connections to primary care and transports to treatment, and that the true figure is likely higher because existing documentation processes are time-consuming and duplicative.
Mancuso described the current workflow: paramedics chart in ESO for each 9-1-1 response, then transfer information into SharePoint and an Excel overdose log. She said that duplication consumes staff time and contributes to underreporting and continuity gaps when busy responders cannot complete all entries. "A lot of what we do is definitely underreported," Mancuso said.
The team has used opioid settlement funds to acquire Gelato, a cloud-based, HIPAA-compliant platform that Mancuso said interfaces with ESO and RMS so community paramedics can receive near-real-time notifications when patients interact with EMS or law enforcement. Mancuso said Gelato will reduce redundant documentation, improve data accuracy and help the county track program progress.
Mancuso also described plans to acquire quick response vehicles (QRVs) better equipped for remote roads and severe weather, expand staff and convert some peer-support positions to mobile integrated health EMT roles. She said the program currently operates Chevy Equinoxes for transports and can go up to 100 miles outside the county for inpatient placement; the QRVs will be all-wheel-drive and carry advanced life support equipment.
Why it matters: more complete and timely data will make it easier to measure program impact, target outreach, and report opioid-connected outcomes that must be justified to the state for settlement funds. Expanded vehicle capacity and staffing aim to improve access to care in areas inaccessible to standard ambulances.
Next steps: the health department and paramedics will implement Gelato, request vehicle and staffing approvals as part of FY27 planning and continue refining documentation practices.
