Where Community Paramedicine Referrals Get Stuck

Authors

Brian M. Canova, University of Vermont Larner College of MedicineFollow

Files

Date

2025

Abstract

Primary care provider (PCP) referrals remain the critical choke point in underutilization of Community Paramedicine (CP) programs, despite their proven ability to reduce readmissions and expand healthcare access. In Maine, barriers include poor provider awareness of CP’s scope, difficulty identifying eligible patients, and lack of streamlined referral pathways. Lessons from CP and palliative care show that EMR-based referral algorithms and embedded care teams can boost referral rates, but adoption is limited by technical and reimbursement challenges. This project identified referral barriers through conversations with community partners and developed a clinic placard to guide PCPs in patient identification as a pragmatic alternative to a “forced consideration” EMR popup.

Clinical Site

Central Maine Medical Center, Family Medicine Residency

Keywords

community, paramedic, paramedicine, ems, referral, primary, care, physician, pcp

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Disciplines

Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Emergency Medicine | Family Medicine | Health Services Research | Internal Medicine | Medical Education | Primary Care

Recommended Citation

Canova, Brian M., "Where Community Paramedicine Referrals Get Stuck" (2025). Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects. 1160.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1160