14 | NEMHS
such individuals within their own homes,
assess their injuries and recovery, and spare
them from the trip to the doctor. Equipped
with an iPad and video link, the community
paramedic could help facilitate the exchange
that would allow the surgical nurse practi-
tioner to monitor the patient’s recovery via
video link. It’s fast and convenient.
McGinnis says these and other com-
munity paramedicine programs continue
to spread throughout the country. He an-
ticipates that changes in healthcare, coupled
with reductions in budgets and diminishing
reimbursement rates from agencies such as
Medicaid and Medicare will prompt new in-
novations and new efficiencies in the delivery
of healthcare services. The business model,
particularly billing, has yet to be worked out
with respect to community paramedicine.
McGinnis suspects that it will rely on a fee-
for-service model early on, but he notes that
in Minnesota, Medicaid has allowed for re-
imbursements to community paramedicine
providers. Medicare has also begun funding
several grants involving the concept. McGin-
nis says in the future, where hospitals and in-
