The Guelph-Wellington Community Paramedicine program is having an “amazing” impact on individuals and the health care system, says Supt. Emily Cooper.
The program aims to reduce the burden on hospital emergency departments and ambulance services, as well as improve the lives of residents by catching potentially problematic health changes before they get to the point of crisis.
“We’ve fairly regularly been able to prevent people from having potentially significant problem events, which saves them from having to go to the hospital and from poor (health) outcomes,” said Cooper. “Our impact is broadening.”
Last year saw the program, provided through Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service, make 9,432 visits to clients throughout Guelph and Wellington County, administer 266 flu shots and remotely monitor the condition of 321 individuals.
“It’s pretty much where our anticipated visits is,” Cooper said of at-home appointments, which helped with early detection of things such changes in blood pressure or weight – both of which can be an indicator of larger issues.
“We’re able to connect people with resources they didn’t even know exist,” Cooper continued, noting identified health concerns often result in the person’s family doctor, specialist or community agency being brought into the loop. “We do a lot of system navigation in that way.”
The program launched as a pilot program in 2021 and has continued since. Between April 1 and Dec. 31 of that year, paramedics performed 5,121 client visits and gave out 309 flu shots.
During its first full year of operation, in 2022, the program saw 13,367 clients visited, 180 individuals remotely monitored and 320 flu shots administered.
Another aspect of the program sees paramedics who respond to emergency calls make recommendations about which patients would benefit from future at-home visits or remote monitoring.
There were 828 such referrals made last year. In 2022, there were 977 referrals made.
