THUNDER BAY – The community paramedicine pilot program will continue.
The province confirmed it would invest $4 million to continue 23 Community Paramedicine programs across Ontario, including Thunder Bay.
The initiative supports a partnership between participating paramedics and teams of health-care workers to provide more care to patients in the community, including:
• Making home visits to seniors and high-needs patients to help them with a range of services such as ensuring they are taking medication as prescribed.
• Increasing assessment and referrals to local services in the community such as the Community Care Access Centres for follow up care.
• Educating patients on managing their chronic disease.
“These Community Paramedicine programs improve access for people with chronic health conditions helping them live independently at home, where we know they want to be,” said Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
“This initiative is about ensuring those with higher needs are able to receive care in the home and in the community from a team of highly skilled health professionals, which can reduce hospital admissions and emergency room visits.”
The goal of the paramedicine program is to help seniors and other patients live independently at home longer and reduce emergency room visits and hospital admissions.
“The Community Paramedicine Program includes $176,000 for Superior North EMS which is great news for our area,” said MPP Bill Mauro (Lib. Thunder Bay – Atikokan).
“This investment will improve access to care while also reducing costs associated with emergency room visits and hospital admissions. I am proud of our governments continued commitment to patient care.”
