Following the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, many local fire departments have shifted operations to not only include fire and rescue, but also community health. Gainesville Fire Rescue’s well-established Community Resource Paramedicine (CRP) program has built itself into a premier “problem solving” mobile integrated health platform, effectively spearheading the fire department further into a formal public health role. As CRP has continued to evolve on the basis of breaking down barriers and creating partnerships, the City of Gainesville recognized this effectiveness and implemented the first Community Health Director- a fire-based civilian position. As paramedics used their unique position to intervene in trafficking, homelessness and the opioid crisis, the Community Health Director has collaborated and work though barriers on multiple short and long term initiatives. This ground-level ingenuity sparked formal, executive-level change.

This session will explore the shifting role of the fire department and the intersections with community paramedicine and health in general, including the establishment of a formal position. Presenters will discuss data-informed decision making as a result of “boots on the ground” real world problem-solving. Examples of the data analysis and application process will be shared, focused on substance overdoses and crisis intervention. Additionally, examples of the intentional community partnerships that have driven this success will be highlighted, including those with LEA and non-profits.
Learning Objectives:

Explain how creative ground-level solutions have impacted public health outside of traditional community paramedicine models.
Describe how formal and informal partnerships can benefit community paramedicine programs and community members.
Analyze how the formalized Community Health Director position is operationalized within fire rescue department and the community.