Patients In Eagle County Program Get Care At Home

EAGLE, Colo. (CBS4) - A doctor referral program in western Eagle County that involves using paramedics for non 911 emergencies is such a success that medical officials are looking to start it in Denver and in other parts of the country.

The Community Paramedic Program involves house calls by paramedics for both insured and uninsured patients. It pairs patients with paramedics in the comfort of their homes.

CBS4 was at a recent house visit when paramedic Kevin Creek was checking in with Howard Risk. Risk, 83, has had difficulty remembering to take his nearly 12 medications.

"Rather than have a patient for every visit have to go into the doctor, this is a chance for the doctor to send us out to do the procedure or the test or the questions that they would normally do in the doctor's office," Creek said.

During Creek's visit he was able to perform a number of tests. He determined Risk needed a physician's attention sooner rather than later and dropped the results off at his doctor's office.

"I just left Howard's. He's feeling weak today, more tired. His blood sugar is 297," Creek said in the office.

To take advantage of the service Creek had to be referred by his doctor.

"They've taken such good care of me," Creek said.

The paramedic program is the first of its kind across the country, and organizers say the biggest benefit is that it's a completely free service.

"Here in Eagle County we have a 29 percent uninsured rate so we have a really big access to care issue," said Anne Robinson, Western Eagle County Ambulance District spokeswoman.

LINK: wecadems.com