Paramedics Providing Preventive Care

From the Daytona Beach News-Journal:

"Proposal aims to head off avoidable 911 calls, Preventative care program could reduce ER visits"

Under a new proposal, city and county firefighter paramedics could provide preventive care -- like checking in to see whether a forgetful diabetic is taking her medicine and eating her meals. Expensive medical costs could be avoided. Paramedics could get needed patient care training, and their departments might even bring in some cash, county officials said.

"The core is that we've got a whole army of health care providers who are extremely well-trained, talented, young and aggressive," said Dr. John Shedd, the county's medical director. "They've got the time, and they know their municipalities and the citizens who would benefit most from this better than anybody."