Not A-Fib:  Mobile Integrated Healthcare, Advocacy and Mental Health in Missouri

Chief Justin Duncan, CEO of Washington County Ambulance District in Missouri, shares insights on pioneering mobile integrated healthcare in a sprawling 1,500-square-mile rural area. Winning the $150,000 Building Bridges to Better Health challenge, his program blends community paramedics, telehealth, and partnerships with federally qualified health centers and social service organizations to close care gaps beyond traditional EMS responses. Duncan discusses the evolution from emergency transport to preventative, holistic care, tackling chronic diseases and social determinants of health, while navigating reimbursement challenges through managed care contracts and advocacy. He highlights the crucial role of public health in community needs assessments and stresses the urgent need to address mental health within EMS, sharing personal stories and calling for cultural change. As president of the Missouri EMS Association and chair of the NAEMT Economics Committee, Duncan emphasizes teamwork, mentorship and engagement at all levels—from local agencies to Capitol Hill—to shape the future of EMS and ensure sustainable, patient-centered care.