Ontario Expands Paramedicine for Long-Term Care Program For Peterborough and Surrounding Area

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The province’s community paramedicine for long-term care program is being expanded announced by the Ontario Government at the Peterborough County-City Paramedics on Thursday.

As of June 2021, more than 38,000 people were on the waitlist to access a long-term care bed in Ontario. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“Seniors in our community deserve a patient-centred health care system; one that offers excellent, high-quality care in their homes, hospitals and long-term care facilities,” said MPP Dave Smith. “This new program will enable offer health care services in their homes, reduce emergency room visits and improve quality of life before they find a spot in long-term care.”

The program is already operational across 33 Ontario communities. It is being expanded to an additional 22 communities including Northumberland County, Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes. The program was first piloted across five communities in October 2020.

The program works alongside primary care and home and community care to provide the following services to eligible seniors: 

  • Access to health services 24-7, through in-home and remote methods, such as online supports

  • Non-emergency home visits and in-home testing procedures

  • Ongoing monitoring of vital signs to prevent escalation of chronic medical conditions

  • Assessments, referrals, diagnostic procedures and point-of-care testing

“To have this program be fully funded is great news”, said Warden, J. Murray Jones. “We have been strongly supporting this for a very long time. Our seniors community are our family members, our parents, our grandparents, and they deserve the best. We have the talent and skill and infrastructure that can provide access to 24-7 healthcare service that is second to none. Our seniors deserve to be able to stay home and have access to a health care system that puts them first.”

Early feedback from participating communities indicates a reduction in rates of hospital admissions and an increased integration with primary care according to the press release.

The program is fully funded by the provincial government and is operated in partnership with municipalities and District Social Services Administration Boards.

“Community Paramedic programs have demonstrated that they are scalable and sustainable solutions which bridge identified gaps in care locally,” said Paramedic Chief Randy Mellow. “This investment will support seniors by providing quality care and service needed to live longer and in the comfort of their homes. It will provide our seniors, their families and caregivers comfort and peace of mind they deserve while potentially delaying the need for long-term care.”

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