Chief of Peterborough County and Kawartha Lakes paramedics Renews Contract

Randy Mellow, Chief of Paramedics Peterborough County and Kawartha Lakes, will continue his role in both positions for an additional two years, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of Peterboroguh County.

It has been a year since Chief Mellow stepped into the dual leadership role for both Services.

“I am very pleased with the decision to continue the shared services agreement that will see continued partnership and collaboration between the Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough Paramedic Services,” said Chief Mellow. “At this time of unprecedented growth and evolution of paramedicine, the visionary leadership of our municipalities as demonstrated in this agreement is key to responding to the needs of our communities in an efficient and proactive way. I am excited to continue to play a role in that vision.”

This Agreement was an early example of the Provincial mandate to find efficiencies and modernization to assist in evolving paramedicine in Ontario. It has been an effective pilot of a collaboration between the two Paramedic Services.

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

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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First Responders Roll Up Their Sleeves for Sirens For Life Blood Drive

The Sirens For Life campaign encourages Police, Fire and Medical services to donate blood during the summer months, which is often when blood is in high demand.

Sirens For Life invites Police Officers, Paramedics, Firefighters and any first responder to donate blood.

Inspector John Lyons has been with the Peterborough Police Department for 35 years, and has been donating blood since then.

“As a first responder I have seen up close and personal the need for blood products arise from the traumatic events that are often seen in policing, EMS or Fire services,” said Lyons.

Lyons says that his experience as a first responder has provided him with knowledge of what donating blood can accomplish and how important it is.

“One thing I can say for sure is donating blood doesn’t hurt you,” Lyons said. “I’ve never donated blood and felt that I’d lost anything.”

Typically, from the May 24 weekend to the August long weekend, first responders are called to more accidents requiring blood, according to Lyons. This can be because of the influx of people outside, on the road and at their cottages, though he notes the need for blood is year round.

“There’s a lot worse things than donating blood, you could be the one in a trauma center needing it, but here we are with the ability to donate it.”

For more information on how you can donate blood click here.

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Paramedic Takeout Program: DBIA and Y Drive PTBO Collaborate To Feed Isolating Paramedics

Contactless food delivery from downtown restaurants is now available to Peterborough City-County Paramedics isolating from their friends and families at the Holiday Inn Waterfront, thanks to a new Paramedic Takeout Program by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area and Y-Drive PTBO.

“The Downtown Business Improvement Area is delighted to be working with the Peterborough City-County Paramedics to feed our front-line workers,” says Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the DBIA. “We have a bounty of amazing restaurants for our paramedics to choose from while in isolation. Food is the most basic form of comfort and we are so incredibly pleased to be spreading a little joy to our isolating paramedics at this time.”

“Along with the DBIA’s Paramedic Takeout Program administrative support, we now have a beautifully designed takeout menu with a plethora of options made specifically for our paramedics,” adds Peterborough County Warden, J. Murray Jones. “Our Paramedics do so much for us. It is so great to provide this for them, and at the same time contribute to local businesses.”

Photo courtesy DBIA

The Peterborough City-County Paramedics set aside funds for meals and accommodation to support the Paramedics through isolation. “Our paramedic team is giving all they’ve got and it’s our responsibility to accommodate them in these uncertain times,” adds PCCP Chief Randy Mellow. “We are very grateful to the DBIA, the downtown restaurants, Y Drive and the Holiday Inn for helping us look after them.”

Y Drive PTBO—a local app-based delivery service—stepped up to support the takeout program, providing free delivery for any participating restaurant unable to deliver foodstuffs themselves.

“Now, more than ever, we need to support our front-line workers—offering free delivery through this program allows Y Drive PTBO to give back to those who are working hard to safeguard our community health,” say Rob Davidson and Erica Young, co-owners and operators of Y Drive PTBO.

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Peterborough Paramedics Sign Partnership Agreement With Wounded Warriors Canada

Peterborough County-City Paramedics (PCCP) has announced the signing of a new partnership agreement with Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC), the well-known national mental health charity that provides vital mental health programs to support Veterans, First Responders and their families.

Under the agreement, Peterborough County-City Paramedics will share resources and identify or refer their members in need of mental health support to the programs offered by Wounded Warriors Canada.

Photo from Peterborough Paramedics announcement courtesy Wounded Warriors Canada

“Our top priority is the psychological and physical health and safety of our staff,” says PCCP Chief Randy Mellow. “This new partnership with Wounded Warriors Canada will allow us to expand upon on the support network we already have in place to ensure that our paramedics and their families are fully supported at their time of greatest need.”

First Responders are highly trained and skilled professionals who, due to the nature of their work, often face challenging situations that test their physical or mental health and safety. Wounded Warriors Canada’s innovative approach to mental health combines clinical best practices and evidence-informed care to create an environment of compassion, hope and resiliency for participants.

Scott Maxwell from Wounded Warriors and PCCP Chief Randy Mellow signing partnership agreement (Photo courtesy Wounded Warriors Canada)

“This partnership recognizes that no single organization can do it all when it comes to mental health support,” says Scott Maxwell, Executive Director of Wounded Warriors Canada.

“When a First Responder is struggling, what matters is that the member and their family knows that we are in this together—working to ensure they receive the help they so rightly deserve,” Maxwell adds. “We look forward to working with Peterborough County-City Paramedics in the months and years ahead.”

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Peterborough Paramedics First in North America To Pilot Next Generation Integrated Driving Experience

Crestline Coach and Ferno Canada have announced that Peterborough Paramedics—which serve the County and City of Peterborough—will be the first EMS Service in North America to pilot the ACETECH iN∫COMMAND solution.

Photo courtesy Peterborough County

Crestline in partnership with Ferno customized three New Era ambulances for Peterborough Paramedics to meet the specific needs of their EMS service.

HOW THE iN∫COMMAND SOLUTION WORKS

-> It is the ultimate control center designed to provide emergency service operators full control of the ambulance by managing and monitoring auxiliary controls and safety equipment from a single touchscreen device.
-> This comprehensive and user-friendly interface optimizes performance by providing access to vital information in real-time and improved asset management.
-> The customizable touchscreen makes operation effortless, easy to view and ultra-responsive even while wearing medical gloves.

Photo courtesy Peterborough County

“My vision for these vehicles is based on my belief that technology is evolving at such speed that we need to be futuristic in our approach to vehicle design," says Peterborough County-City Paramedics Chief Randy Mellow.

The Paramedics Chiefs of Canada (PCC) get the first glimpse of Peterborough’s state of the art ambulance at the annual PCC Leadership Summit & Conference beginning Wednesday (June 13th) in Edmonton, Alberta.

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