In this edition of the EMS One-Stop podcast, host Rob Lawrence Zooms (literally) from the U.K. to South Carolina to spotlight one of the nation鈥檚 most forward-thinking mobile integrated healthcare programs. Prisma Health鈥檚 team has taken community paramedicine beyond buzzwords, designing targeted, evidence-based programs that meet people where they are 鈥� both geographically and medically.
| MORE: How North Dakota EMS is confronting rising pediatric mental health crises
Whether it鈥檚 addiction medicine, rural HIV/HCV treatment or skilled nursing interventions, this team is shifting paradigms on what EMS can and should be doing.
Rob is joined by four key voices from the Prisma Health MIH program:
- Luke Estes, director of MIH
- Dr. Mirinda Gormley, epidemiologist and biostatistician
- Wes Wampler, community paramedic specializing in addiction and infectious disease
- Parker Bailes, community paramedic and research contributor
Together, they unpack how passion meets data to drive change, how to earn trust in communities overlooked by traditional systems, and why this work isn鈥檛 just novel 鈥� it鈥檚 necessary. This is EMS in its truest public health form.
Memorable quotes
- 鈥淵ou delivered the goods鈥攄ata-driven, community-connected care 鈥� and that鈥檚 what EMS in 2025 needs more of.鈥� 鈥� Rob Lawrence
- 鈥淲hen you see some of your people who have a passion for a certain pathway in EMS, you try to give them the reins and say, you鈥檙e gonna do some good.鈥� 鈥� Luke Estes
- 鈥淥ne of the big things that we learned from his study was that we really needed to go out and make sure everybody was aware that addiction is a disease.鈥� 鈥� Mirinda Gormley
- 鈥淚f we can gain their trust, there鈥檚 a lot more that we can kind of weasel our way into to help them solve and get them on a healthier trajectory.鈥� 鈥� Wes Wampler
- 鈥淲alking into the (care) facility with the mindset of, 鈥業鈥檓 going to do everything I can to keep you here,鈥� was a big shift for me.鈥� 鈥� Parker Bailes
- 鈥淚f we can set them up to be successful after they leave the hospital, I think that鈥檚 the best way to get them reengaged with the hospital.鈥� 鈥� Wes Wampler
- 鈥淎s their leader 鈥� all I have to say is, what do you need? I鈥檓 here to support you.鈥� 鈥� Luke Estes
Additional resources
- Support for harm reduction by community EMS
- How does a community re-imagine compassion to avoid crisis whenever possible?
- Breaking barriers: Hennepin EMS leads the way in safely implementing buprenorphine
Episode timeline
00:51 鈥� Introduction to Prisma Health MIH & guests
03:00 鈥� Luke Estes overview of MIH models (ETS, SDOH, addiction)
05:00 鈥� Dr. Gormley鈥檚 public health journey, data-opioid focus
08:00 鈥� Buprenorphine pilot design and research outcomes
10:15 鈥� Challenges: bias, stigma, barriers to addiction care
13:00 鈥� Funding and sustainability conversation
14:00 鈥� Wes Wampler on daily workflow in addiction medicine and HCV care
17:00 鈥� Building trust with vulnerable populations
18:30 鈥� Parker Bailes discusses traditional CP role and skilled nursing interventions
21:45 鈥� Alternative destinations, lab draws and high-acuity decisions
25:30 鈥� Training: internal education, ultrasound, medication management
28:15 鈥� Prisma鈥檚 med school connection and disaster response evolution
30:00 鈥� State-level partnerships: SC EMS Assn, FEMA typing, CP strike teams
31:56 鈥� Academic next steps from Dr. Gormley: scaling, publishing, process evals
35:26 鈥� Final reflections from Luke Estes: passion, team strength and mission
38:00 鈥� Rob鈥檚 call to action: 鈥淚f you want your own Prisma team 鈥� start now.鈥�
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