Northwell Phelps Hospital received a $125,000 grant from the Phelps Community Foundation to help launch the Westchester Community Paramedicine Program. The program, developed in partnership with the Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps (OVAC), is designed to improve access to care and reduce emergency room visits by enabling trained community paramedics to provide high-quality medical services directly to vulnerable patients in their homes.
Community paramedics will receive support from ER on Demand, Northwell’s virtual emergency care service, as well as from primary and specialty care physicians, to conduct clinical assessments and provide treatments for patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They will utilize remote physiological monitoring to track blood pressure, oxygen saturation and cardiac rhythms, providing convenient and cost-effective care compared to emergency room visits.
Besides reducing unnecessary emergency department visits, the program aims to lower readmission rates and address some of the social determinants of health, such as food insecurity and loneliness. The initiative will first focus on patients served by Phelps’ palliative care, geriatric and emergency medicine programs with plans to expand service to cancer patients. It is expected to reach approximately 200 individuals during the first year, averaging three visits per patient over the course of the year.
The grant from the Phelps Community Foundation, an independent foundation focused on community health, aligns with the program’s mission to improve access to care and reduce emergency room visits. Since its inception in 2020, the foundation has donated nearly $4.5 million to local food banks and emergency response organizations.
Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, New York, is committed to high-quality, equitable and patient-centered care. Earlier this year, the Lown Institute Hospital Index recognized Phelps with an “A” grade for its dedication to social responsibility in the area of clinical outcomes. The hospital is the first and only medical center in Westchester County to be recognized by the New York State Department of Health as an Always Ready for Children (ARC) hospital, highlighting its exceptional preparedness in emergency services. Additionally, Phelps’ emergency department earned the Emergency Nurses Association Lantern Award, showcasing excellence in quality of care, safety and a supportive work environment for nursing staff.
is A full-service 218-bed acute care community hospital with more than 1,700 employees and 1,400-plus medical staff members representing 60 medical specialties, Phelps offers one of the broadest ranges of community hospital services in Westchester County. It is one of approximately 570 hospitals nationwide to achieve Magnet Recognition® status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for its commitment to nursing excellence and compassionate patient care. The hospital is supported by Northwell Health Physician Partners, a primary and specialty care medical group, with practices located on the hospital campus and in the surrounding communities.
