The Fond du Lac Fire chief says a pilot mobile services program designed to help ensure at-risk residents don’t fall through the cracks when it comes to their overall health and well being has been successful. Fond du Lac Fire chief Pete O’Leary updated the city council on the program at their meeting Wednesday night. O’Leary says off-duty paramedics visit residents who have requested or been referred for service but likely don’t need emergency care. O’Leary says paramedics will perform an assessment and then help connect the patient with the appropriate care referrals in the community. “We had 18 visits with 13 different patients from March 21 through September 7 and the reduction of repeat ER visits has been 50 percent, 40 percent reduction in hospitalizations and 911 calls by 62 percent,” O’Leary said. O’Leary says using a Mobile Integrated Healthcare model emphasizes the importance of providing the right care at the right time in the right place at the right cost. The program is made possible thanks to a contribution from the Agnesian Healthcare Foundation.
