While most hospitals can state that they are open 24/7, the true continuum of care doesn’t end whenever the patient leaves the parking lot. Our patients are always our patients, and we go the extra mile to make sure that our patients are safe outside our walls. That is why, in 2014, the hospital invested in one paramedic’s vision to build a program known as STARS: Special Needs Tracking and Awareness Response System. This one-of-a-kind, and now nationally benchmarked program helps coordinate and coach ambulance districts, fire districts and community hospitals to know the specialized needs of medically complex patients inside their coverage area and get the appropriate, specialized training to care for these patients’ needs before they even arrive at the patient’s side. Program Coordinator/Paramedic, Nick Salzman and parents, Jamie and Tim Massinelli joined us to share how the program got started and the impact it has on both sides of the 911 call.