Press Release: New Community Paramedic for HOPE
Health Department Posted on October 02, 2026
Rowan County Public Health and Rowan County EMS Welcome New Community Paramedic to Post Overdose Response Team
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Salisbury, NC- Rowan County Public Health and Rowan County EMS are pleased to announce the addition of Zackery Hamilton, Community Paramedic, to the Post Overdose Response Team (PORT). Established in 2019, PORT is a collaborative partnership between Rowan County Public Health and Rowan County EMS that works to connect individuals impacted by substance use and overdose with lifesaving resources, support services, and treatment options.
Hamilton brings 18 years of healthcare experience, including five years of dedicated service as a paramedic with Rowan County EMS, where he has played a vital role in providing emergency medical care to Rowan County residents. In addition to his clinical experience, he serves as a Field Training Officer, mentoring and supporting the development of new EMS personnel. His background in emergency response and dedication to serving the community make him uniquely qualified to support Rowan County's overdose prevention efforts.
As Community Paramedic, Hamilton will respond to overdose incidents within the community, working alongside Public Health staff to engage individuals following an overdose event. Through these outreach efforts, he will provide harm reduction education, distribute naloxone (Narcan), connect individuals to treatment and recovery resources, and help address barriers that may prevent individuals from accessing care.
"Every overdose presents an opportunity to save a life beyond the emergency call itself” said Chief Heather Hewitt, EMS Division Chief. “Zack's role as Community Paramedic allows us to extend our reach into the community, ensuring individuals receive not only immediate medical care, but also the support, resources, and connections needed to begin their path toward treatment and recovery. This position is an important investment in the health and safety of Rowan County."
The goal of the Community Paramedic position is to reduce overdose-related deaths, increase access to treatment and recovery services, and improve connections to care for individuals at high risk of experiencing an overdose. By meeting individuals where they are and providing immediate support following an overdose event, PORT aims to bridge the gap between emergency response and long-term recovery.
"We know that an overdose can be a critical opportunity to engage someone in care," said Alyssa Harris, Public Health Director. "Through our partnership with Rowan County EMS, the PORT program works to connect individuals with the resources and support they need to improve their health and well-being. Zack's addition to the team strengthens our ability to provide timely outreach and continue building a healthier Rowan County."
PORT reflects Rowan County's ongoing commitment to addressing substance use through collaboration, evidence-based interventions, harm reduction, and recovery support. By connecting individuals to treatment, recovery services, and community resources, the program seeks to improve outcomes for residents and reduce the impact of overdose across Rowan County.
For questions or more information, please contact the HOPE team at:
Phone: 704-216-8827
Email: HOPE@rowancountync.gov
DOWNLOAD: Press Release New Community Paramedic for HOPE
This press release has been prepared by the Rowan County Public Health Department through interdepartmental collaboration, with the purpose of informing the public about current or emerging public health matters. For more information, please contact the Public Information Officer (PIO).
Contact:
Amy Smith
(704) 216-8859
Loading
[{"WidgetSkinID":108,"ComponentType":8,"FontFamily":"Poppins","FontVariant":"regular","FontColor":"","FontSize":0.00,"FontStyle":0,"TextAlignment":0,"ShadowColor":"","ShadowBlurRadius":0,"ShadowSpreadRadius":0,"ShadowOffsetX":0,"ShadowOffsetY":0,"ShadowInset":false,"ShadowColor2":"","ShadowBlurRadius2":0,"ShadowSpreadRadius2":0,"ShadowOffsetX2":0,"ShadowOffsetY2":0,"ShadowInset2":false,"ShadowColor3":"","ShadowBlurRadius3":0,"ShadowSpreadRadius3":0,"ShadowOffsetX3":0,"ShadowOffsetY3":0,"ShadowInset3":false,"ShadowColor4":"","ShadowBlurRadius4":0,"ShadowSpreadRadius4":0,"ShadowOffsetX4":0,"ShadowOffsetY4":0,"ShadowInset4":false,"ShadowColor5":"","ShadowBlurRadius5":0,"ShadowSpreadRadius5":0,"ShadowOffsetX5":0,"ShadowOffsetY5":0,"ShadowInset5":false,"Capitalization":0,"HeaderMiscellaneousStyles1":"","HeaderMiscellaneousStyles2":"","HeaderMiscellaneousStyles3":"","BulletStyle":0,"BulletWidth":2.00,"BulletColor":"","LinkNormalColor":"#ffffff","LinkNormalUnderlined":false,"LinkNormalMiscellaneousStyles":"background-color: #007396;\nbox-shadow: 0px 10px 20px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25);\nborder-radius: 5px;\ntext-transform: uppercase;\npadding: 0.5em 2em;\nwidth: fit-content;\nmargin: 1.75em auto 0 auto;\ntransition: all .3s ease-in-out;","LinkVisitedColor":"#ffffff","LinkVisitedMiscellaneousStyles":"background-color: #007396;","LinkHoverColor":"#ffffff","LinkHoverUnderlined":true,"LinkHoverMiscellaneousStyles":"background-color: #00536C;\npadding: 0.5em 3.5em;","LinkSelectedUnderlined":false,"ForceReadOnLinkToNewLine":false,"DisplayColumnSeparator":false,"ColumnSeparatorWidth":0.0000,"HoverBackgroundColor":"","HoverBackgroundGradientStartingColor":"","HoverBackgroundGradientEndingColor":"","HoverBackgroundGradientDirection":0,"HoverBackgroundGradientDegrees":0.0000000,"HoverBackgroundImageFileName":"","HoverBackgroundImagePositionXUseKeyword":true,"HoverBackgroundImagePositionXKeyword":0,"HoverBackgroundImagePositionX":{"Value":0.0000,"Unit":0},"HoverBackgroundImagePositionYUseKeyword":true,"HoverBackgroundImagePositionYKeyword":0,"HoverBackgroundImagePositionY":{"Value":0.0000,"Unit":0},"HoverBackgroundImageRepeat":0,"HoverBorderStyle":0,"HoverBorderWidth":0,"HoverBorderColor":"","HoverBorderSides":15,"HoverBorderRadiusTopLeft":{"Value":null,"Unit":1},"HoverBorderRadiusTopRight":{"Value":null,"Unit":1},"HoverBorderRadiusBottomRight":{"Value":null,"Unit":1},"HoverBorderRadiusBottomLeft":{"Value":null,"Unit":1},"SelectedBackgroundColor":"","SelectedBackgroundGradientStartingColor":"","SelectedBackgroundGradientEndingColor":"","SelectedBackgroundGradientDirection":0,"SelectedBackgroundGradientDegrees":0.0000000,"SelectedBackgroundImageFileName":"","SelectedBackgroundImagePositionXUseKeyword":true,"SelectedBackgroundImagePositionXKeyword":0,"SelectedBackgroundImagePositionX":{"Value":0.0000,"Unit":0},"SelectedBackgroundImagePositionYUseKeyword":true,"SelectedBackgroundImagePositionYKeyword":0,"SelectedBackgroundImagePositionY":{"Value":0.0000,"Unit":0},"SelectedBackgroundImageRepeat":0,"SelectedBorderStyle":0,"SelectedBorderWidth":0,"SelectedBorderColor":"","SelectedBorderSides":15,"SelectedBorderRadiusTopLeft":{"Value":null,"Unit":1},"SelectedBorderRadiusTopRight":{"Value":null,"Unit":1},"SelectedBorderRadiusBottomRight":{"Value":null,"Unit":1},"SelectedBorderRadiusBottomLeft":{"Value":null,"Unit":1},"HoverFontFamily":"","HoverFontVariant":"","HoverFontColor":"","HoverFontSize":0.00,"HoverFontStyle":0,"HoverTextAlignment":0,"HoverShadowColor":"","HoverShadowBlurRadius":0,"HoverShadowSpreadRadius":0,"HoverShadowOffsetX":0,"HoverShadowOffsetY":0,"HoverShadowInset":false,"HoverShadowColor2":"","HoverShadowBlurRadius2":0,"HoverShadowSpreadRadius2":0,"HoverShadowOffsetX2":0,"HoverShadowOffsetY2":0,"HoverShadowInset2":false,"HoverShadowColor3":"","HoverShadowBlurRadius3":0,"HoverShadowSpreadRadius3":0,"HoverShadowOffsetX3":0,"HoverShadowOffsetY3":0,"HoverShadowInset3":false,"HoverShadowColor4":"","HoverShadowBlurRadius4":0,"HoverShadowSpreadRadius4":0,"HoverShadowOffsetX4":0,"HoverShadowOffsetY4":0,"HoverShadowInset4":false,"HoverShadowColor5":"","HoverShadowBlurRadius5":0,"HoverShadowSpreadRadius5":0,"HoverShadowOffsetX5":0,"HoverShadowOffsetY5":0,"HoverShadowInset5":false,"HoverCapitalization":0,"SelectedFontFamily":"","SelectedFontVariant":"","SelectedFontColor":"","SelectedFontSize":0.00,"SelectedFontStyle":0,"SelectedShadowColor":"","SelectedShadowBlurRadius":0,"SelectedShadowSpreadRadius":0,"SelectedShadowOffsetX":0,"SelectedShadowOffsetY":0,"SelectedShadowInset":false,"SpaceBetweenTabs":0,"SpaceBetweenTabsUnits":"","Trigger":1,"AnimationId":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","AnimationClass":"animation00000000000000000000000000000000","ScrollOffset":33,"TriggerNameLowerCase":"hover","ParentComponentWithTrigger":null,"BackgroundColor":"","BackgroundGradientStartingColor":"","BackgroundGradientEndingColor":"","BackgroundGradientDirection":0,"BackgroundGradientDegrees":0.0000000,"BackgroundImageFileName":"","BackgroundImagePositionXUseKeyword":true,"BackgroundImagePositionXKeyword":0,"BackgroundImagePositionX":{"Value":0.0000,"Unit":0},"BackgroundImagePositionYUseKeyword":true,"BackgroundImagePositionYKeyword":0,"BackgroundImagePositionY":{"Value":0.0000,"Unit":0},"BackgroundImageRepeat":0,"BorderStyle":0,"BorderWidth":0,"BorderColor":"","BorderSides":15,"BorderRadiusTopLeft":{"Value":null,"Unit":1},"BorderRadiusTopRight":{"Value":null,"Unit":1},"BorderRadiusBottomRight":{"Value":null,"Unit":1},"BorderRadiusBottomLeft":{"Value":null,"Unit":1},"MarginTop":{"Value":null,"Unit":0},"MarginRight":{"Value":null,"Unit":0},"MarginBottom":{"Value":null,"Unit":0},"MarginLeft":{"Value":null,"Unit":0},"PaddingTop":{"Value":null,"Unit":0},"PaddingRight":{"Value":null,"Unit":0},"PaddingBottom":{"Value":null,"Unit":0},"PaddingLeft":{"Value":null,"Unit":0},"MiscellaneousStyles":"","RecordStatus":0}]
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
