The Joliet City Council has approved a new initiative between the Joliet Fire Department and the Will County Community Health Center that aims to improve the health and well-being of residents through expanded access to Community Paramedic (CP) services.
The program embeds a Community Paramedic directly into the patient care process at the health center, providing at-home follow-up visits for individuals with chronic health conditions that are frequently linked to hospital readmissions, according to information provided at Tuesday’s meeting when the initiative was unanimously approved.
The conditions paramedics can treat include congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, post-surgical recovery, and mental health challenges.
“This is an excellent program, and it is well needed,” said Councilwoman-at-large Jan Quillman.
This innovative partnership ensures patients have access to critical support services at no cost, helping them manage their conditions more effectively at home while reducing unnecessary hospital visits, according to Joliet Fire Chief Jeff Carey.
“Our goal is to improve outcomes for residents by bringing care directly into the community,” said Carey. “This program reflects our department’s commitment to proactive, patient-centered service.”
Community Paramedics will work closely with Will County Community Health Center staff to provide personalized follow-up care. Their responsibilities include checking vital signs, ensuring patients are attending follow-up medical appointments, verifying prescriptions and medications, and assessing the safety of the home environment. The program also supports long-term health goals and improvements in quality of life.
In addition to health monitoring, the paramedics will collaborate with the fire department’s social worker and local agencies to connect patients with other essential resources such as food, transportation, or housing assistance that fall outside the scope of traditional medical care.
“This partnership is about meeting people where they are,” said Stacy Baumgartner, chief executive officer of the Will County Health Clinic. “Together with the Joliet Fire Department, we’re building a safety net that extends well beyond the hospital walls.”
The program has been implemented at Silver Cross Hospital and St Joseph Medical Center for Joliet residents, Baumgartner added.
For more information about the Community Paramedic program, contact the Joliet Fire Department by email at JFDHHS@joliet.gov or by phone at (815) 724-3512.
In Other City News
The council on Tuesday approved an intergovernmental agreement with Pace bus company on the VanGo program.
Pace’s VanGo provides vehicles at bus stations, like at the Gateway Center, that will allow riders to travel to their work locations after taking the bus to the depot area. The Pace bus station is also located at the Gateway Center.
VanGo is a reservation-based, round-trip service that is designed so Pace riders can drive within a defined zone around the transit station for getting to and from their job any day of the week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Once registered, residents can reserve a van for $5 per day. Pace handles all the maintenance and refueling. Drivers can only travel within the defined zone as established by Pace.
The designated zone is typically a five- to 10-mile radius around where the van is parked, according to Pace.
