Hyattsville Furniture Store Help PGFD Medics Improve Living Conditions for Patient

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
MEBrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department continues their innovative approach in assisting citizens with their healthcare needs. The program, titled Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH), focuses on linking our residents with available healthcare agencies throughout the county and region.  Through the utilization of community based paramedics and nurses, the program brings healthcare providers to a citizens home to assess and coordinate their health needs.  Based on the complexities of the current healthcare system, many citizens utilize the 911 system as their primary means of healthcare. This innovative approach ensures our citizens are connected with the best healthcare resources available in the region.

The MIH Team initially focuses on those citizens that have accessed the 911 system frequently.  Once identified, the team meets with patients in the comfort of their home to discuss and identify healthcare needs.  During these home visits, the patient is assessed for any acute medical problems, have their medical history and current medications reviewed, and the team will also perform a full home safety assessment.  This home safety assessment ensures that any potential hazard can be identified and corrected.  The overall goal of these home visits is to connect the citizens with services that meet their specific needs, whereas an ambulance transport to the emergency room may not always be the appropriate solution.

So it was that the MIH Team was visiting a patient at his apartment in Hyattsville when they noticed the mans bed and bedroom furniture were missing.  The man, in his 70’s, explained that the apartment complex management removed the bed due to an infestation of bed bugs.  The responsibility to replace the bed is that of the resident.   This patient suffers from multiple chronic conditions that caused him to be transported to the hospital over 20 times in 2016. Since the MIH Team has been working with him (approximately 90 days), he has made only one return trip to the hospital and his health is steadily improving.  The patient is a man of little means and spends most of his income on his medications.  Replacing the bed was not an viable option for him financially.

The patient had to sleep in his living room on a love seat and the MIH Team feared that this sleeping arrangement might have an adverse impact on his health.  Their fears were verified when the gentleman was soon transported to a hospital for medical treatment.

The MIH Team went above and beyond the call to duty and sought to rectify the problem on behalf of their patient.  They visited a nearby Bobs Discount Furniture Store in Hyattsville and explained the situation to the store manager.  Without hesitation the store agreed to donate a bed to the man, deliver and set it up.  Hopefully, with new sleeping arrangements the man can return to a more normal and healthy way of life.

The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department would like to acknowledge the generosity and willingness to help someone in need.  “As firefighters and medics we accept the responsibility to help people in need,” said Fire Chief Benjamin Barksdale.  “Bobs Discount Furniture has no such obligation but agreed to help, without hesitation or reservation, and resolve an adversity for a total stranger.”

Bobs Discount furniture was scheduled to deliver and set up a new bed today just in time for the patients return from the hospital.


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