Уезд Дорчестер расширит программу общинных медиков после оказания помощи более чем 1200 жителям

Dorchester County expands community paramedic program after reaching 1,200 residents SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) — Dorchester County is adding a second community paramedic to its team after the program served more than 1,200 residents in its first year. Angelina Johnson became the county’s first community paramedic when the program launched in August 2025. The program started after Johnson and the EMS department noticed a number of calls using EMS when they needed a different type of medical help. The position connects people to medical and non-medical resources when an ambulance is not needed. Johnson has served more than 1,200 patients and connected 200 of them to primary care, according to the county. She has also completed 134 post-overdose visits, connecting 24 people to substance use treatment and recovery. “It’s very much a tailored-to-what-they-need experience,” Johnson said. “Sometimes it’s a one-time visit. Sometimes it’s multiple visits. Sometimes it’s they just need clothes or... they need home repairs to ramps to flooring repairs and things like that. It really... varies from person to person.” The role also provides equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs and canes. Johnson helped start the county’s Narcan Leave Behind Box program. She and other EMS staff have distributed more than 225 boxes as prevention. The program also addresses food insecurity, uniting families and drug use. Johnson has helped 11 people out of homelessness and has worked with community organizations to connect families who need help. “Everyone’s needs are different. But it was nice to be able to help people find a home, help people find a means to their situation,” she said. “It was really very inspiring to be able to help them through that situation.” The program also allows dispatchers to refer calls to the community paramedic if emergency care isn’t necessary. “It was also to help free up ambulances and for more emergent needs, things like lift assist, people who need those social resources,” Johnson said. “Like, unfortunately, we have people that are disclosing food insecurities, so being able to connect them with food banks or being able to get them a stipend of food. People that didn’t have access to primary care, especially rural areas. It’s connecting people in a different way.” Many of the people connected with the community paramedic are through referrals or flagged repeat 911 calls. The county says adding a second community paramedic will mean fewer duplicate services and will connect more people to non-emergency resources, from primary care to durable medical equipment. “It’ll be a huge help, doubling the reach, so to speak,” Johnson said. “Being able to have somebody, that’s on standby pretty much every day of the week for the most part, whether we share the schedule during the week to where we can get into weekends. Being able to really truly expand in the things that we wanted to do.” The department will start the hiring process this fall. The new community paramedic is expected to start in January. Johnson said she hopes to eventually have a community paramedic available on every shift. Copyright 2026 WCSC. All rights reserved.