The Guelph-Wellington Regional Paramedicine Program made 9,432 visits to patients in Guelph and Wellington counties last year
of Guelph-Wellington Regional Emergency Medicine The program has had an “amazing” impact on individuals and the health care system, Saputo said. Emily Cooper.
The program aims to reduce the burden on hospital emergency departments and ambulance services and improve the lives of residents by identifying potentially problematic health changes before they become a crisis. The purpose is
“We can significantly more often prevent events that could cause serious problems for people, so they don’t have to go to the hospital and avoid bad (health) outcomes. “It has become,” Cooper said. “Our influence is growing.”
Last year, the program, offered through Guelph-Wellington Emergency Medical Services, made 9,432 visits to clients across Guelph and Wellington counties, administered 266 flu shots and remotely monitored the status of 321 people.
Cooper said of the home appointment that it helped him catch changes in blood pressure and weight early, both of which could be indicators of a larger problem.
“We can connect people with resources they didn’t even know existed,” Cooper continued, noting that once a health concern is identified, the person’s primary care physician, specialists, and community agencies are involved. He pointed out that there are many things to do. “We do a lot of system navigation this way.”
The program began as a pilot program in 2021 and has continued ever since. From April 1 to December 31, 2018, paramedics made 5,121 patient visits and administered 309 influenza vaccinations.
During its first full year of operation in 2022, the program had 13,367 client visits, 180 people monitored remotely, and 320 flu shots administered.
In another aspect of the program, paramedics responding to emergency calls will recommend which patients would benefit from future home visits or remote monitoring.
Last year there were 828 such referrals. In 2022 he had 977 referrals.
