New Fort Walton Beach program cuts down frequent 911 calls. The answer? In-home visits

FORT WALTON BEACH — Some people may never need to call 911 in their lifetime, but for others who suffer from chronic health conditions or frequent falls, it is an all too common need.

Falls account for nearly 17% of 911 calls among people age 65 and older, according to the National Council on Aging. And the firefighters who respond are often called to the same homes repeatedly.

It's a problem that the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department is looking to address locally with a new program focused on prevention.

Improving EMS care in Walton County:DeFuniak Fire applies for ALS license to address increased call volume, transport times

Fort Walton Beach firefighters in action:First responders rescue 10-year-old trapped in locked bedroom during Fort Walton Beach fire

The Community Assistance Referral and Education Services program is also designed to help other types of frequent 911 system users.

How the CARES program works

The new community paramedic program allows residents within Fort Walton Beach to schedule in-home visits with the fire department. Residents have several options when it comes to the appointments.

They can request a home-fall and fire-safety assessment, quality-of-life survey and medical review, as well as assistance navigating community resources.

Firefighters and paramedics may also reach out to residents who fall frequently or have chronic health conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure or COPD.

Capt. Leann Calabro, who began working to implement the program in April at the request of Fire Chief Ken Perkins, said "it's important to concentrate on prevention" because one in 10 falls result in hospitalization.

During visits, firefighters will try to identify underlying factors such as removing trip hazards or extra furniture. They may also look at adding a contrasting color on steps or removing a door from its hinges to allow for better clearance.

Fort Walton Beach gets new fire truck:Ocean City, Fort Walton Beach unveil fire engine, ladder truck to replace old trucks

However, sometimes it's not the external factors that are the issue, Calabro said. Another common issue associated with falls is the interaction of multiple medications.

"Six in 10 adults in the U.S. have a chronic disease, and four in 10 have two or more," Calabro said. "The complexity of managing medications grows with the number of conditions."

During the visit, firefighters might check to see if the person skips any medications, and help them get organized to discuss their medications with a pharmacist. Calabro said some people may choose not to take medications because of negative side effects.

"We might also see if resources are an issue," Calabro said. "Maybe the person would benefit from Meals on Wheels or a donated wheelchair."

Similar programs prove efficient

Calabro spent months researching other community paramedic programs and meeting with project coordinators in South Florida before the CARES program began coming together in July.

Almost all were based on the same concept of meeting people in their home to help identify gaps in care. Educational and coaching aspects were also derived from similar programs to help people become better managers of their health.

"A person who calls 911 10, 20 or 40 times a year for falls is at risk of being admitted to the hospital and losing some of their independence," Calabro said. "Since similar programs reduce the number of these types of calls by 50% to 75%, we have an opportunity to make a dramatic effect on the quality of life of our citizens."

The program is also expected to help reduce costs associated with 911 response in Fort Walton Beach. Just in the month of July the FWBPD responded to 312 medical calls— which made up 68% of 911 calls that month.

The Fort Walton Beach Fire Department expects the CARES program to grow in services provided, and users, as the program continues to evolve. A person may receive one visit or continued weekly visits for as long as necessary.

To find out more information or make an appointment, call 850-833-9567 or email cares@fwb.org.