Several years ago, the Goodyear Fire Department recently identified a problem: Many residents were frequently calling 9-1-1 for non-emergency issues, but still needed help.

“We want people to know that, no matter what’s going on, we’re always going to come to help you, but a lot of these people really don’t have the medical resources that you would come to expect a person that’s in the community would have access to,” said Goodyear Fire Chief Paul Luizzi.

That’s why the department created the Community Paramedicine Program – a proactive approach to ensure the health of residents who need extra assistance from time to time.

Goodyear began exploring the possibility of such a program about five years ago after realizing that thousands of residents were calling 9-1-1 multiple times per month. Many of those residents had long-term needs beyond what an emergency room visit could provide.

The Community Paramedicine Program is a continuation of a pilot program that the city recently conducted. It allows the Goodyear Fire Department to ensure residents’ safety at home, and help them meet their medical, nutritional and psychological needs. That includes informing residents of medical benefits that may be unaware they had, and connecting them with free, long-term programs.

Those programs include Benevilla, Brookdale, Area Agency on Aging, Crisis Response Network, Home Instead, Hospice of the Valley, Meals of Joy and Senior Adult Independent Living.

Dozens of Goodyear residents have already received assistance through the program since it was relaunched late last year. That includes Kathleen Pesulima, a senior resident whose severe arthritis has left her unable to stand or walk. Her husband, Jack, has experienced health problems of his own and is often unable to provide Kathleen with the assistance she needs to get around the house.

"We're able to put them in touch with resources that are out there that people don't really even know about, and they're free," said Goodyear firefighter and paramedic Joe Hernandez, who has made multiple visits to the Pesulimas' home. "Being on a fire truck, you don't have that time to dedicate to those citizens. Now, we can dedicate that time to the people who need it, and we can sit there and we can actually talk to them and find the resources that they need."

Through the program, Hernandez was able to get Kathleen help around the house. Through Area Agency on Aging, Kathleen has gotten assistance with housekeeping and bathing, helping to lighten the load for her and Jack.

"I think it's great," Kathleen Pesulima said. "They're very helpful, very caring and very good."

United Healthcare has agreed to fund the program for up to a year. Luizzi hopes it will benefit thousands of residents who need extra assistance, and prevent them from making those frequent emergency room visits and 9-1-1 calls.

“There’s a really good partnership there with United, and hopefully we can get a lot more success stories like that and kind of prove to others in the healthcare environment that this is a viable and beneficial program,” he said.