Northwell Phelps Hospital received a $125,000 grant from the Phelps Community Foundation to help launch the Westchester Community Paramedicine Program beginning this fall. The program, developed in partnership with the Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps (OVAC), is designed to improve access to care and reduce emergency room visits by enabling trained community paramedics to provide high-quality medical services directly to vulnerable patients in their homes.
Community paramedics will receive support from ER on Demand, Northwell’s virtual emergency care service, as well as from primary and specialty care physicians, to conduct clinical assessments and provide treatments for patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They will utilize remote physiological monitoring to track blood pressure, oxygen saturation and cardiac rhythms, providing convenient and cost-effective care compared to emergency room visits.
“This program is designed to address the gap in access to primary and non-emergency medical care for vulnerable populations,” said Barry Geller, MD, chair of the emergency department and associate medical director at Phelps Hospital. “By bringing essential healthcare services directly to patients’ homes, we reduce the strain on emergency rooms, improve patient outcomes and fulfill our commitment to raise health beyond the hospital into the community we serve.”
Besides reducing unnecessary emergency department visits, the program aims to lower readmission rates and address some of the social determinants of health, such as food insecurity and loneliness. The initiative will first focus on patients served by Phelps’ palliative care, geriatric and emergency medicine programs with plans to expand service to cancer patients. It is expected to reach approximately 200 individuals during the first year, averaging three visits per patient over the course of the year.
“We’re excited to expand our community paramedicine program in partnership with Northwell Phelps Hospital to deliver more comprehensive care and preventive services at home,” said Nick Franzoso, EMS director, Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps. “This program extends quality care across Westchester, improving patient comfort and satisfaction. We are grateful to Dr. Geller for his leadership and the entire Phelps team for their support.”
Phelps Hospital will utilize its extensive emergency training infrastructure located within the hospital at the Frank and Lisina Hoch Center for Emergency Education. Community paramedics will be trained in a suite of specialty programs and lecture series taught by expert physicians based on the curriculum from the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT). The initiative will leverage not only Northwell Health’s emergency telehealth services but also tap into its Center for Emergency Medical Services system, the largest hospital-based ambulance service in the New York Metropolitan area.
The grant from the Phelps Community Foundation, an independent foundation focused on community health, aligns with the program’s mission to improve access to care and reduce emergency room visits. Since its inception in 2020, the foundation has donated nearly $4.5 million to local food banks and emergency response organizations.
Phelps Hospital is committed to high-quality, equitable and patient-centered care. Earlier this year, the Lown Institute Hospital Index recognized Phelps with an “A” grade for its dedication to social responsibility in the area of clinical outcomes. The hospital is the first and only medical center in Westchester County to be recognized by the New York State Department of Health as an Always Ready for Children (ARC) hospital, highlighting its exceptional preparedness in emergency services. Additionally, Phelps’ emergency department earned the Emergency Nurses Association Lantern Award, showcasing excellence in quality of care, safety and a supportive work environment for nursing staff.
