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A system for at-home evaluation and treatment or referral for elderly patients with acute minor complaints could be easier for patients and less costly than emergency transport to an acute care hospital. Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of using paramedics with extended skills to provide such care in a large urban area in England.
During the 1-year study, weeks were cluster-randomized to the paramedic service’s being available (intervention) or not available (control). Seven experienced paramedics underwent 3 weeks of intensive didactic and practical training in care of the elderly, followed by 45 days of supervised practice. During intervention weeks, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM, the paramedics provided initial assessmen…