Community paramedicine is a relatively new healthcare model that allows paramedics and emergency medical technicians to assist with public health and primary healthcare, offering preventative services that improve access to care and reduce hospital readmittance.

At the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, SVAC filed with the New York State Department of Health for community paramedicine authorization, one of only three such programs in Westchester County. In doing so, we were able to vaccinate homebound residents, offer vaccination and testing clinics at our headquarters, and expand our community outreach to patients with COVID and other respiratory ailments.

Based on our initial success, we worked with White Plains Hospital's WP Cares Program to initiate home visits of recently discharged patients who met hospital-defined criteria, to lower the rate of patients who are readmitted to the hospital. This resulted in a double-digit reduction in returning patients.

SVAC has also been approved to administer blood and urine tests in the home environment, a first in New York State, which will reduce doctor visits for routine blood work as well as return trips to the hospital. Applications for administering home antibiotics to pneumonia patients and remdesivir and monoclonal antibodies to COVID patients are pending currently with the NYS Department of Health.