Photo: Travis Bubenik | Marfa Public Radio
Community paramedicine programs are becoming more popular across the US, especially in rural areas where health care is facing a crisis. A 2023 survey counted more than 150 such programs and proponents hope data will encourage more funding. In tiny Terlingua, Texas, where the nearest hospital is more than an hour away, Susan Martin's small emergency medical services department responds to 911 calls across 3,000 square miles of rural West Texas. So Martin’s paramedics regularly check in on people with known health issues, saving money for patients and hospitals alike. The program is funded as part of a $5 million US Department of Agriculture rural development grant, but with no guarantees for long-term funding.
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