Coweta Cares is a mobile integrated healthcare program comprised of a community paramedic and licensed mental health clinician who assess individuals in the community for psychiatric related emergencies. The program does not replace primary care but serves as an extension, using a community-based network to focus on frequent users of emergency services. It uses patient-centered mobile resources in an out-of-hospital environment, ultimately helping to improve healthcare access and decrease costs.
Coweta Cares was developed by local partners committed to reinvesting existing resources to better serve citizens. In partnership with various community stakeholders, including:
- Coweta County
- Coweta County Fire Rescue
- Pathways Center
- Georgia Department of Public Health
- Piedmont Newnan Hospital
The program was approved in October 2018 by the Coweta County Board of Commissioners and launched in March 2019. It addresses a common, community need – providing mental health assessments and care on the front lines. Care that is appropriate for the situation, care that has the capacity to provide ongoing support and coordination and care that is provided in most cases without the need for an emergency room or law enforcement.
In short, the goal of Coweta Cares is to provide psychiatric and medical care in the most appropriate, helpful, and efficient manner possible.
