By Lizbeth Espinoza Segueda, JNOW Intern
In some places, Emergency Medical Services waits for an emergency, but in Johnston County, they get ahead of it, thanks to an innovative program that began here 10 years ago.
In 2013, Josh Holloman, then serving as EMS Director and now the Deputy Director of Emergency Services, noticed that certain patients were calling for assistance multiple times each week. He recognized that many of these calls stemmed from unmet medical and social needs, which in turn placed an excessive demand on EMS resources.
With the help of the Johnston County Health Director, Dr. Marilyn Pearson, UNC Health Johnston partnered with the organization to launch the EMS Community Prevention Program on July 1, 2015.
The program differs from a traditional system in that it helps patients before emergency calls ever happen. It’s an innovative approach for providing preventative care to the most vulnerable in the county while lowering ambulance use, according to Holloman.
“Paramedics were already well trained to provide care for out-of-hospital settings,” he said. “All that was needed was to provide training for the preventive aspects of their response towards frequent patients.”
Inspired by similar programs in neighboring counties, the idea was to create a program that would offer preventative services to improve the health of residents and also be a proactive step in reducing the number of calls for EMS.
This approach works by identifying patients who would benefit from preventive services and visiting them regularly to address medical concerns before they escalate into emergencies. An initial home visit typically extends beyond medical care, providing a comprehensive support system. During the visit, patients receive medical, social and safety assessments, along with medication reconciliation and education.
Staff members also pick up and deliver prescriptions, provide disease-specific guidance and connect patients with essential community resources. In addition, they assist with scheduling and attending physician appointments, ensuring that no patient is left to navigate these issues alone.
For many patients, this isn’t just a service — it’s a lifeline.
Holloman shared the words of one patient who has already graduated from the program: “I just wanted to say thank you. I live by myself, and I worry something will happen and no one will know for days. It was nice to have people come check on me when I got out of the hospital and help me get back on my feet.”
The program has seen an average of 213 patients each year since its inception and maintains an average of 80 percent success in keeping patients from readmission to the hospital.
“The program has helped reduce the number of frequent callers for EMS, allowing them to be available for emergencies,” said Holloman. “Most importantly, it allows citizens of Johnston County to understand their medical conditions and improve their quality of life.”
In July of 2024, the program expanded with the addition of the Johnston County Post Overdose team — a partnership between Emergency Services and Public Health.
Operating 24 hours a day, the unit responds to overdose and behavioral emergencies, connecting patients to treatment, recovery programs and vital resources.
It’s just one more way that Johnston County EMS is changing the ways people think of patient care.
