A new concept for the Milwaukee Fire Department (MFD) -- paramedics treating patients before they call 911. They'll start this week, and this will help cut down on the number of emergency calls MFD gets from the same home each month.

They're called community paramedics, and they'll specialize in treating chronic conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

"The issue with asthma is you can get the air in, but you can't necessarily squeeze it out," said Sarah Brundidge, manager of lung health services with the American Lung Association in Wisconsin.

These paramedics are training with the American Lung Association, thanks to a grant from the United Health Foundation.

"Milwaukee has some of the highest rates of asthma in the country," said Brundidge.

MFD dispatch records show 24% of calls are from individuals with 'difficulty breathing.' The same patient could call as many as 40 times in six months.

Source:  Fox 6 News, Milwaukee