Community Integrated Health  (CIH)

CIHs, also known as Community Paramedics, are members of an emerging field in healthcare where emergency care providers operate in expanded roles to help connect underserved populations with underutilized resources. CIHs work with patients, care providers, and local services to address individual and community health needs. 

The primary role of these positions is to reach disproportionately affected populations with effective culturally tailored programs and practices for COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, isolating, vaccination, and healthcare strategies and disseminate scientifically accurate and culturally responsive information and facilitate access to health-related services.

• Provide clinical assessment and care, including (not limited to) assessment of vital signs, cardiac monitoring, medication administration, wound care, lab draws and specimen collection.
• Provide outreach to community resources, disease management coaching, preventative care, and other needed activities to patients managing various chronic health conditions and to referral sources and community.
• Provide advocacy to address health disparities at the individual and community levels.
• Assist patients in understanding care plans and instructions.
• Acts as a liaison between referral sources, facilities and outside entities to prevent and/or resolve continuum of care issues.
• Demonstrates skills in effectively coordinating and monitoring care to promote quality and cost-effective outcomes.
• Assesses health status, social determinates of health and health equity barriers.
• Reduce stigma and other barriers to initiating or continuing health care by providing necessary information to both community members and health care providers.
• Assist patients with completion of forms and paperwork.
• Schedule appointments for patients in clinic or other health/social service agency.
• Outreach and assistance with COVID testing for community members.
• Providing information to the community on contract tracing.
• Providing information to the community on quarantine and isolation requirements for those exposed to COVID.
• Providing medical care (within licensure scope of practice) and other assistance to those in quarantine or isolation who may need help with food, communications, housing and other social needs.

The following programs are currently approved by the Board of Medical Examiners for Montana:

• Missoula College
• MedStar through Tarrant County College
• Hennepin Technical College

All courses are offered virtually, and the clinicial portion of the course is done by the individual under the guidance of their organization's Medical Director. Missoula College is currently the only in-state CIH program for Montana.

Emergency care providers with a valid license and at least one year of experience at your current level of licensure are eligible to apply for a CIH course.

They will receive the Community Integrated Health Care (CIHC) Endorsement upon successful completion of a board-approved curriculum in CIH provided by an accredited institution of higher learning and 48 hours of clinical experience.

The cost of the training varies by provider. Please visit their website to learn more.

If you are a participant in one of our programs, the cost of your training a course fees will be covered.