Patient Calls Rhembrandt and Regional West’s Community Paramedic Program “A Godsend”

Life at home after a lengthy hospital stay can be challenging. After months surrounded by nurses, doctors, and other caregivers, it can feel intimidating to figure out how to heal on your own. For Scottsbluff resident Dorothy Pedersen, Regional West’s Community Paramedic Program was the perfect stepping stone from hospital to home.

Dorothy was hospitalized at Regional West for three months receiving treatment for pneumonia resulting from a heart issue. After she was discharged, she spent another month in an outpatient rehab facility before returning home. She had grown accustomed to having helping hands around her, so when the time came to be on her own, she didn’t feel entirely comfortable.

“There was always someone there to help if I needed anything, but now I was by myself at home. That can be kind of a scary feeling,” she said.

Dorothy was enrolled in the Regional West Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Community Paramedic Program, an initiative designed to help patients and their families post-hospital discharge as they recover at home. The program and EMS team also work in tandem with existing services in the community, helping connect patients to local resources. Community paramedic Robby Rhembrandt, NRP, FP-C, CP-C, would visit Dorothy once a week to check her blood pressure and progress, providing comfort along the way.

“Sometimes you need that professional perspective to reassure you that you’re getting better and you’re on the right track. Robby did that for me,” Dorothy said.

A spinal fracture set Dorothy back, but she’s on the mend again and getting back to doing the activities she enjoys. She believes there was a divine influence in her healing and is grateful for the care Robby and his team provided.

“I believe God has a hand in everything and things happen the way they do for a reason. Robby was a godsend. “