Seminole County fire program wins national recognition for community care

Seminole County Fire Department’s Community Paramedicine Program brought home Program of the Year from a national conference in Chicago, putting a local home-visit model in the national spotlight. The program was selected from more than 80 submissions nationwide for its community-health focus, care model and measurable outcomes.

The recognition lands on a program that has grown quickly since its soft launch in late December 2021. Seminole County says the service is free for county residents and is aimed at people who may not have easy access to primary care, who rely heavily on 911 or who face a risk of being readmitted to the hospital after treatment.

By early June 2022, the program had enrolled 47 residents and completed more than 455 visits. By 2023, it had reached 150 enrolled residents and 1,912 home visits in the prior year, showing how fast the service moved from a pilot to a regular part of county public safety work.

The strongest numbers came from 2025: nearly 2,500 home visits, more than 250 enrolled residents, an enrollment rate above 90 percent and a graduation rate of 78 percent. Those figures show a program that is not just making referrals from afar but going into homes, checking on residents and staying involved long enough to help them move out of the emergency system.

Fire Chief Matt Kinley, who has been with the department since 2001, said the program’s proactive approach improves quality of life while reducing unnecessary strain on first responders, emergency rooms and health-care partners. Seminole County Fire Department says its mission centers on rapid response and continuous prevention, and the community paramedicine work fits squarely inside that model.

The service reaches beyond medical checks. County pages say paramedics coordinate with the Seminole County Health Department, Seminole County Veteran’s Services Office, The Sharing Center, HOPE Helps, Inc., Meals on Wheels, primary care providers, home care agencies, pharmacies, interpreter services and local food banks. A 2024 county annual report said the program also connects clients to durable medical equipment, food, medication delivery and veterans’ benefits.

Seminole County Fire Department was established on Oct. 1, 1974, and the award reflects how far the agency has moved from a traditional emergency-response role. In Sanford and across Seminole County, the program now functions as a bridge between the 911 system, home care and the services that keep vulnerable residents out of the hospital.