The Marysville Fire Division was named the Public Health Partner of the Year by the Union County Health Department. The Marysville Fire Department’s Community Paramedicine Program and active role in several community initiatives is making a positive impact on health and quality of life for residents of Union County. Pictured above, from left to right, are Health Commissioner Jason Orcena, Marysville Fire Chief Jay Riley, City of Marysville Mayor J.R. Rausch, Union County Health Department Health Planner Rebecca Honaker, firefighter/paramedic Mike Montgomery who leads the Community Paramedicine Program, Batallion Chief Jim Strayton and Marysville City Council Member Henk Berbee.
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Marysville Fire Division Named Public Health Partner of the Year.
The Union County Health Department has recognized the Marysville Fire Division (MFD) and Chief Jay Riley as the Public Health Partner of the Year.
Winners of the annual award are selected by the leadership staff of the Union County Health Department for outstanding contributions to improving health and wellness within Union County. MFD’s expansion of the Community Paramedicine Program and its active role in community collaboration were two driving factors behind their selection as the Public Health Partner of the Year.
“The Marysville Fire Division’s Community Paramedicine Program is making a significant impact in our community by tackling the root causes that lead residents to repeatedly seek emergency care,” said Health Commissioner Jason Orcena. “Chief Riley and his fire fighters and paramedics are using their first-hand experiences to not just respond to emergency needs, but to create strategies to prevent future emergencies.”
The MFD’s Community Paramedicine Program was developed to improve health outcomes for residents who repeatedly need emergency services. Through the Community Paramedicine Program, paramedics who often encounter very complex cases, step outside their role of emergency services and work with patients to identify and address the root causes that are landing the individual in the emergency room.
One example of MFD’s Community Paramedicine Program in action is its collaboration with the Union County Health Department’s older adults home safety program. The Community Paramedicine Program is helping to identify residents who are at high risk for falls and link them to home modification programs that can install safety features like grab bars and handrails.
Why is this fall prevention collaboration so important? Because according to the Centers for Disease Control, fall death rates in the United States increased 40 percent from 2007 to 2016 for older adults. Every 11 seconds an older adult is treated in an emergency room because of a fall.
“Firefighter/paramedic Mike Montgomery has taken the lead in turning the concept (Community Paramedicine Program) into action. He and all our firefighter/paramedics are doing an outstanding job in trying to work with our residents to prevent emergency calls and help residents before an emergency situation arises,” Riley said “I am proud of the work we are doing and I truly appreciate the support we receive from city council and city administration.”
Beyond the Community Paramedicine Program, the MFD plays a key role in the Opioid Overdose Review Committee and the Community Health Improvement Planning group led by the Union County Health Department. MFD has also been instrumental in providing Safety Town for incoming kindergartners within the Marysville school district since 2016.