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Mountain Medics: House Calls After Helene's Fury
15 Dec
Summary
- Paramedics provide non-urgent medical care and social support.
- Hurricane Helene destroyed vital infrastructure, isolating residents.
- Program aims to reduce hospitalizations and fill healthcare gaps.
Paramedics Evan Carroll and Nicole McKinney are providing essential health services in remote Yancey County, North Carolina, following Hurricane Helene's devastating impact. With roads and communication lines compromised, they now make crucial house calls, delivering non-urgent medical care, monitoring chronic conditions, and ensuring patients follow doctor's orders. Their role extends beyond emergency response to include care coordination and social support.
These dedicated community paramedics reach up to 120 patients each month, many of whom were previously high users of emergency services. The program is instrumental in reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and addressing critical healthcare access gaps in areas where infrastructure, like bridges, was destroyed by the hurricane.
Beyond medical interventions, Carroll and McKinney offer compassion and companionship, combating loneliness in a region where access to healthcare providers is limited. Their commitment was evident when they used personal vehicles to reach stranded residents after the hurricane, even developing respiratory illnesses from the hazardous conditions.
