GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — Bett Katsma used to spend many hours in urgent care and take multiple trips to the emergency room. She is 81-years-old, and has a few health issues, including with her lungs.
However, for the past four years, she has been working with TANDEM365 and their community paramedics. She is now cared for in her home rather than racking up emergency care bills.
"She is just a godsend, she is," said Katsma, talking about her regular community paramedic, Marilee Bradford.
The paramedics have regular visits with their patients and can also answer urgent calls 24/7.
"We go out to our patients, our participants, and visit them in their home environment and make sure they are safe, make sure they are stable and doing all the things their doctors tell them to do," said Bradford. "We can identify whether there are other needs in the home they may otherwise not tell us about."
The paramedics can do anything from EKGs to a chest X-ray to pain management. They also give regular check ups.
"It's not easy for people to get out of their houses sometimes," said Bradford. "There is a need out there. People are getting older, they're getting sicker. And there's a lot of diseases out there."
Katsma was connected with TANDEM365 through her insurance, Priority Health. They help identify patients who may benefit from the program and offer it as an option.
"This saves the company money, but saves me a piece of mind," said Katsma. "It's awesome."
TANDEM365 was founded in 2014 in Grand Rapids as a start-up. It now serves nearly 6,000 patients in Kent, Ottawa, Montcalm, Newaygo, Allegan and Kalamazoo Counties. It is a collaborative program with Life EMS Ambulance, Sunset Senior Communities, Holland Home, Brio Living Services and BHI Senior Living.
Katsma wants others to know about the community paramedic program.
"Because it’s out there, and if people don’t know, it it’s sad," said Katsma. "These people are out there helping everybody. Their kindness and their heart are helping everyone."
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