CARMEL, NY – Earlier this week, Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne announced the launch of the County’s community paramedicine program. Byrne was joined at the event by Putnam Hospital President Dr. Mark Hirko, Putnam County Commissioner of Emergency Services James Oster, Director of Emergency Medical Services Robert Cuomo and Robert Stuck, Executive Director of Empress EMS. County Legislators Nancy Montgomery and Laura Russo were also in attendance.

 Community paramedicine provides needed care in patients’ homes, reducing unnecessary 911 calls and hospital transport for non-emergency conditions. Putnam County’s Community Paramedicine/Mobile Integrated Healthcare will be administered by Empress, which has provided the County advanced life support (ALS) services since 2023.

 “We are excited to collaborate to close healthcare gaps and deliver essential services directly to our community,” Byrne said. “These professionals will deliver public health, primary care, and preventive services directly to residents’ homes, with a focus on seniors, homebound individuals, and people with chronic conditions. This approach saves taxpayers money while improving quality of life. By meeting residents at their doorsteps, care is delivered before a crisis occurs, ensuring that everyone can rely on Putnam County for support."

 The move builds on the County’s $2.8 million annual investment in paramedic services. Putnam County is the first in the state to centralize paramedic funding at the county level. The County adjusted some Empress resources to cover the costs of the community paramedicine unit, which aims to ease strain on emergency systems, improve access to non-urgent care, and create long-term cost savings through more efficient use of emergency resources.

 Paramedicine services can include wound care, medication adjustments, blood drawings, chronic disease management, fall prevention and telehealth consultations. One of the main goals of community paramedicine is to keep patients from returning to the hospital for follow-up care, accelerating recovery and enhancing overall health.

 “This initiative is about meeting people where they are, safely at home with the care they need,” said Legislator Nancy Montgomery. “I thank County Executive Byrne, EMS Director Cuomo, Rob Stuck and all of Empress for their leadership, and especially the paramedics, volunteers, and first responders who have served Putnam County with such dedication for so many years.”

 “This program is a smart, compassionate investment in the health of our residents,” said Legislator Laura Russo. “By bringing care directly into people’s homes, we are improving outcomes for seniors and families while reducing strain on our emergency system and saving taxpayer dollars. I’m proud to support an initiative that puts patients first and positions Putnam County as a leader in innovative, community-based healthcare.”

 “This is the first county program in the state of New York,” said Stuck. “It’s proactive and community based, it’s family and patient centric, and it will fill those gaps in care that have traditionally existed in our current system.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 40% of emergency department visits involve patients who could be treated effectively in nonurgent care settings. At least 40 states have launched mobile-integrated health or community paramedicine programs.

"This is an exciting time for Putnam County residents,” said Keyur Ajbani, MD, Putnam Hospital’s Vice President of Medical Affairs. “The launch of Community Paramedicine marks a crucial, forward-thinking step, promising significant impact on patient well-being through in-home care and a reduced strain on our emergency department. We're proactively improving community health, preventing crises and leveraging telemedicine for immediate patient improvements.”

 Community paramedicine expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic due to need to have ample COVID testing, provide vaccines, and keep elderly and immunocompromised residents out of emergency rooms and hospitals. Empress’ Community Paramedics were called on and became the first in the state to vaccinate homebound individuals and were responsible for over 200,000 COVID-19 vaccinations.

 “We’re proud to partner with Empress to deliver this important care to residents,” Director Cuomo said. “By reducing unnecessary ambulance transports for non-critical conditions, this program ensures patients get the proper care in a timely manner. It also supports safe recovery at home, improving health outcomes through collaboration with our hard-working first responders.”

 During his time in the State Assembly as the ranking member of the Health Committee, Byrne championed the legislation that allowed for the creation of Community Paramedicine programs in local governments.

Byrne is expected to testify before the State Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee Meeting on Health on February 10 in Albany about the county’s community paramedicine program.

 Watch the full press conference at: