HCEMS Receives $1.7 Grants

Harrison County EMS (HCEMS) operated by Harrison Memorial Hospital has been awarded $1.7 million in grant support for three major initiatives designed to expand emergency medical services, community-based healthcare and clinical training throughout the region.

HCEMS received funding for the following initiatives: Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Transformation, Mobile Integrated Health/Community Paramedicine and the development of a Mobile Simulation Training Unit. Funding support was awarded by Kentucky Rural Health Transformation (RHT), administered by The Kentucky Department for Public Health, within the Cabinet for Health & Family Services.

Initial funding access will run from October 1, 2026, through October 1, 2027, with eligibility for four additional years of funding to expand the awarded programs. The programs will work in coordination with Harrison Memorial Hospital (HMH) and other healthcare partners to create a more connected system of care for patients throughout the region.

“This funding provides an important opportunity to transform how we care for patients both during and after an emergency,” said HMH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kathy Tussey. “These programs will allow us to expand the role of EMS, connect patients with additional healthcare resources and bring advanced training opportunities directly to providers throughout our region.”

EMS Transformation

The EMS Transformation initiative will establish new care pathways for qualifying 911 patients when transportation to a hospital emergency department may not be medically necessary.

The program will allow HCEMS to develop protocols for treating qualifying patients at the scene, transporting appropriate patients to approved alternative destinations and using telehealth technology to connect EMS crews and patients with healthcare providers.

The initiative will also support telehealth technology, mobile field devices, connectivity, documentation and data systems, clinical equipment and provider training.

The goal is to connect patients with the right care, at the right place, at the right time while providing more options for patients, improving the use of EMS resources and reducing avoidable emergency department transports.

Mobile Integrated Health/Community Paramedicine

HCEMS will establish a regional Mobile Integrated Health/Community Paramedicine program designed to extend healthcare services into patients’ homes.

The program will include the hiring of two full-time community paramedics who will provide post-discharge follow-up, in-home assessments, chronic disease management support, medication reconciliation and patient education.

Community paramedics will also use telehealth to connect patients with physicians and other healthcare resources. The program is designed to serve a 10-county regional area and help reduce preventable 911 calls, emergency department visits and hospital readmissions.

“Community paramedicine will allow us to extend care beyond the traditional 911 response,” said Shane Bussell, director of Harrison County EMS and Transportation, “Our community paramedics will be able to follow up with patients in their homes, identify needs earlier and help connect them back to the appropriate healthcare resources.”

Mobile Simulation Training Unit

HCEMS will also develop a Mobile Simulation Training Unit capable of bringing advanced clinical education directly to EMS agencies and healthcare providers throughout the region.

The mobile unit will provide realistic simulation for cardiac, airway, trauma, pediatric and other high-risk clinical scenarios. It will support EMT and paramedic education, continuing education and advanced clinical training while reducing the need for providers to travel to a central training location.

The unit will include high-fidelity manikins, advanced airway trainers, cardiac simulation equipment, trauma and IV/IO systems, ventilator training equipment, virtual reality training technology, debriefing and audiovisual systems, mobile classroom technology and connectivity.

“The Mobile Simulation Training Unit will give us the ability to take advanced training directly to providers across the region,” Bussell said. “That means more opportunities for hands-on education and greater readiness when our healthcare professionals encounter critical situations.”

Although HCEMS received the funding for the three initiatives, the programs are designed to strengthen connections among EMS, Harrison Memorial Hospital and other healthcare resources throughout the region.

Together, these resources will help create a more connected continuum of care—from the initial 911 call to the appropriate level of care, hospital services when needed, follow-up at home, access to additional resources, prevention and continued training for healthcare providers.

“This investment is about building a stronger healthcare system for our entire region,” Dr. Tussey said. “We are creating additional options for patients, extending care into the home and investing in the education and preparedness of the professionals who care for our communities.”

About The Kentucky Rural Health Transformation Program

Kentucky Rural Health Transformation is part of a five-year federal investment to reshape health in rural Kentucky. The Kentucky Department for Public Health, within the Cabinet for Health & Family Services, administers the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program. The program is funded through H.R. 1, federal legislation signed into law in 2025, and administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Through five locally-led, state-coordinated initiatives, KY RHT is tackling the challenges rural communities face in maternal and infant health, dental care, diabetes and chronic disease, behavioral health crisis response, and emergency services. KY RHT is working to develop the health care workforce, improve care coordination, and expand access to care so every rural Kentuckian has the opportunity to live their healthiest life and every community can thrive. Learn more at ruralhealthplan.ky.gov.

This project is 100% funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for a total of $212.9 million in budget year 1 with 100% by CMS/HHS. The KY RHT grant spans five budget periods aligned with federal fiscal years (FY2026–FY2030). Funding is disbursed annually by CMS based on achievement of performance metrics. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government. View the Notice of Funding Opportunity from CMS.