Paramedic program getting some attention

With a focus on providing improved emergency responses to situations arising from a mental health crisis, a recently launched Community Paramedic Program through the Weiser Ambulance District is receiving a lot of attention from across the state. 

 “There was another article that just came out this last week,” WAD Director Alan Foster told the Washington County Commissioners in their role as the Weiser Ambulance Board on Monday, June 16. “And we have a state senator that has contacted us wanting to sit down to do an interview with us to see where she can help.”

 Foster said all state certifications required for WAD to this point are in place and a state approved class is being arranged for the district’s EMTs that will qualify them to provide assistance with the program.

 “We actually helped our first patient,” Foster added. “I didn’t know if we would get to that point within the first year, but Ashley went over to the jail to help with a person in a mental crisis. We got her the help she needed, 988 came out with their mobile crisis unit and picked her up.”

 Foster said an initial meeting had been held for developing a crisis intervention team in the county that includes Weiser Police, the Sheriff’s Office, Weiser Memorial Hospital, and local medical clinics, with the goal of identifying those in the community with mental health needs.

 He said that combined effort will give the program a better chance to assist people with resources they may need, as well as improving planning for when something does happen.

 “There are several counties doing this as well, we’re not the first, but the initiative we’re taking is above and beyond what others are doing, and to have that kind of resource within a small county is a big deal,” Foster said.

 Commissioner Gordon Wilkerson said he had been approached by someone who was concerned with the program and the liability that could be tied to it.

 “You’re dealing with mental health crises,” Wilkerson said. “Are there qualifications that need to be met for this program?”

 Foster reaffirmed that four paramedics have been certified through the state crisis intervention training and critical incident stress management training.

 Referencing states where some law enforcement agencies are taking a hands-off approach for mental health issues, Foster said they are hoping that Washington County never takes that stance.

 “A question I don’t have the answer for, if you’ve got a mental health crisis that could be possibly dangerous and the Sheriff’s Office isn’t willing to take it up, who does?” Wilkerson asked.

 “There is a difference where if life and property are in danger at the time, (law enforcement) is still going to respond,” Foster said. “How that person is managed is where the difference is. The Police Department or Sheriff’s Office is not going to be solely responsible for trying to intervene with someone who’s having a mental health crisis.

 “Where we’re at right now is way farther than I thought we’d be when I first started gathering the information for this program,” he added. “It’s been exciting, and to get the community buy-in we’ve had has been pretty amazing. The ultimate goal, just to answer your question, the protocols we have set, even for just any 911 response, is not putting ourselves at risk, so liability from that standpoint is a number one priority.”