Burke EMS earns $299K in grant funding through NCRHTP

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced on June 8 that it will provide a total of $10 million to 39 local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies, including $299,000 to Burke County, through the N.C. Rural Health Transformation Program (NCRHTP).

The funds awarded by the NCDHHS Office of Emergency Medical Services for Mobile Integrated Health will strengthen the EMS workforce and expand rural communities’ access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment and services.

“Every North Carolinian deserves access to safe, affordable, quality healthcare, no matter where they live,” Gov. Josh Stein said. “Investing in our EMS workforce and expanding behavioral health services in the rural parts of the state will help North Carolinians get the care they need closer to home.”

“Improving access to care starts with investing in our healthcare providers, including our frontline EMS workforce,” NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai added. “By strengthening EMS-led Mobile Integrated Health programs, we can provide timely treatment, support life-saving recovery, and ultimately reduce preventable overdoses.”

The NCRHTP funding gives EMS providers across the state the tools, training, and resources needed to support residents with substance use disorders beyond the initial 911 call.

In 2021, rural North Carolinians experienced higher rates of both fatal drug overdoses and overdose-related emergency department visits compared to those rates for urban North Carolinians. The awarded funds enable EMS agencies to address those trends by providing medication for opioid use disorder, supporting rapid follow-up care after overdose events, and connecting individuals to treatment and recovery services.

These locally led initiatives developed by EMS providers allow rural residents to receive direct care in their communities when they need it most.

“EMS professionals are uniquely positioned at the intersection of emergency response and healthcare delivery, serving as a critical link in the continuum of care for rural communities,” said Tom Mitchell, Chief of the NCDHHS Office of Emergency Medical Services.

The NCRHTP investment recognizes EMS as an essential component of the state’s healthcare workforce and a vital partner in expanding access to behavioral healthcare and substance use disorder treatment. This initiative represents an important step toward ensuring that rural residents have greater access to the services and support they need to achieve long-term health and recovery.

For more information about the N.C. Rural Health Transformation Program, including ways to get involved, visit ncdhhs.gov and search for NCRHTP.

— JM