EASTON — Chief Justin Alexander, Public Health Officer/Firefighter Timothy Vamosi and Director of Health and Community Services Kristin Kennedy are pleased to announce the creation of the Easton Community Health and Paramedicine program, a partnership between Easton’s Fire Department and Department of Health and Community Services.
The program blends health care, public safety and public health with the goal of implementing an effective and accessible Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) Program. By investing in proactive and preventative care, the program seeks to have Easton residents remain in the community by focusing public health and EMS resources on proactive and preventative care rather than solely on reactive emergency care, providing support that limits the need for emergency care whenever possible.
The program was officially launched this month and is managed by the town’s recently appointed EMS/MIH/Public Health Officer, Firefighter Timothy Vamosi. Vamosi joined the Easton Fire Department in 2004. He brings over 20 years of experience in emergency medical services as an EMT/Paramedic and is trained in family practice, infection control and surgical practice as an MSN-RN. His career also includes a position as a Hazardous Materials Technician for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Hazardous Materials serving jointly as a member of the Joint Hazardous Incident Response Team.
“The new Community Health and Paramedicine program is a large part of our goal to continue to augment the training our paramedics receive and enhance the care that we are able to provide to our community,” Public Health Officer Vamosi said. “Emergency medical services and paramedicine have really progressed in the last several decades, and we’re seeing now an opportunity to expand the services we provide by incorporating preventative care rather than just focusing on care that is reactive to emergency calls. This program will allow us to not only provide basic preventative health services to residents here in town free of charge, but also directly connect them with additional resources available through town departments to address their specific needs.”
The events and initiatives that are currently offered as part of the Easton Community Health and Paramedicine program include:
- Children with Special Health Care Needs: During an emergency, accurate and critical medical information can be hard to obtain. This program proactively gathers crucial information needed for treatment of children with special health care needs from the family’s specialty provider, which will then be available to Easton Fire Department paramedics, allowing them to provide the highest quality care in the case of an emergency. If you have a child with special health care needs and would like to participate in this voluntary and confidential program, please contact 508-230-0750 to schedule an appointment.
- Community Health Clinics: Clinics are currently being held at Frothingham Hall and Parker Terrace, and offer weekly blood pressure and blood sugar checks performed by paramedics. Clinics are held on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Frothingham Hall and 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Parker Terrace. In addition to these checks, the interaction provides an opportunity to educate residents on additional programs and resources.
- Residential Sharps Collection: The sharps collection program has continued to evolve since residential sharps were banned in 2012. Sharps are collected locally through recurring events such as Household Hazardous Waste Day and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Take Back Day. To expand access to this program year round, a new sharps drop-off kiosk is available for Easton residents at the Bay Road Fire Station, 413 Bay Road. The kiosk opened Nov. 8 and is now available during normal business hours.
- Child Passenger Safety: The Easton Fire Department has multiple certified car seat installation technicians and has begun to book appointments for residents to complete installations and inspections. To schedule an inspection or installation by the fire department, please contact 508-230-0750.
Also as part of the Community Health and Paramedicine program, the fire department will be working to expand training to better serve community needs. This includes training on following up with residents regarding reportable diseases — including COVID-19 — and developing the first medical school style training program for paramedics in the region.
“We are excited and thrilled to be taking this next step toward our goal of promoting and supporting the social, mental and physical health of Easton’s residents,” Director Kennedy said. “Our team is fortunate to work in an environment where we are encouraged and supported in responding proactively to the community’s needs with this type of program.”
Several additional programs are expected to be added as the initiative grows, such as the Welcome Home Program that will allow the department to welcome infants and their families home to Easton by providing an opportunity to receive a visit from MIH representatives during the first eight weeks after birth, and providing educational resources for nutrition, parenting, safety and other family assistance.
Additional plans include connecting residents with available social services in relation to substance use disorder, mental health and other community needs, as well as going door-to-door to check on residents following major storms.
The Community Health and Paramedicine program is based at Frothingham Memorial Hall, 15 Barrows St. Staff can be reached by phone at 508-230-0750 or by email at communityhealth@easton.ma.us.
The program was introduced at the Easton Select Board meeting on Nov. 1. A recording of the presentation can be found here. Residents can also learn more about the program here.
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