Fire Rescue’s Community Paramedicine program made great strides in its first year to fill the healthcare gaps within Flagler County. The program, led by Caryn Prather, Flagler County’s community paramedic, started in April 2018 and served 71 patients in its first year in Palm Coast, Bunnell, and Flagler Beach.
“I made 453 patient visits this past year,” Prather said. “It’s been such a rewarding experience. I have the opportunity to visit with patients for about 30 minutes, and really assess what their needs are.”
Prather’s client base started with people who were frequent users of the 9-1-1 system for non-emergency medical needs and transportation to the hospital. Since its inception, these calls have decreased by 80 percent.