Community Paramedic Transforms Lives in Umatilla County

In a vital initiative to assist the most vulnerable individuals, Jessica Marcum, a community paramedic with the Umatilla County Fire District No. 1, has made significant strides in ensuring essential medical care reaches those in need. Recently recognized by the Association of Mobile Integrated Healthcare Providers for her efforts, Marcum’s work highlights the critical role of community paramedics in addressing healthcare gaps.

Life-Saving Intervention

Marcum’s recent success story involves a homeless individual who missed crucial follow-up care for a wound, raising concerns of potential infection. The Good Shepherd Health Care System reached out to Marcum after the patient failed to attend several appointments. Given the person’s history of frequent emergency calls, the hospital sought assistance in locating them.

“This person was known to reside at McKenzie Park,” Marcum stated, emphasizing her commitment to finding the patient. Accompanied by a home health nurse familiar with the case, Marcum was able to locate the individual at the park.

“The patient didn’t know they had missed their appointments,” Marcum explained. Thanks to her efforts, the patient was transported to the hospital for necessary treatment and subsequently assisted into transitional housing.

Positive Outcomes and Future Support

Since Marcum’s intervention, the individual has not experienced any re-admissions for infections, a notable improvement compared to three hospital admissions and one emergency room visit prior to her assistance. Marcum only disclosed that the patient was aged between 50 and 60, underscoring the importance of maintaining privacy.

Marcum noted that not all individuals in similar situations are open to receiving help. “It’s not often that people in this situation are receptive to help,” she remarked. “Sometimes it takes a little push to get them the help they need.”

As a community paramedic, Marcum’s responsibilities are diverse, ranging from responding to 911 calls to conducting post-hospital visits and welfare checks requested by healthcare professionals. This multifaceted role enables her to identify and address gaps in local healthcare services.

The Umatilla County Fire District’s Community Paramedicine program is a collaboration with the Good Shepherd Health Care System, serving over 90,000 residents across approximately 5,500 square miles in Umatilla and Morrow counties. Marcum expressed her passion for helping the community’s most vulnerable members.

“I love the opportunity to become an expert on our local resources,” she said. “With just a couple of calls, we can get them the help they didn’t even know existed.”

Through her dedication, Marcum exemplifies the profound impact that community paramedics can have in bridging the gap between healthcare services and those who need them most. As her work continues, the Umatilla County community can expect ongoing improvements in healthcare access and support for its most vulnerable residents.