Funding renewed for community paramedicine program that helps local seniors

The Community Paramedicine program that brings preventative care to elderly people living in seniors' housing, retirement homes or their own houses has received word that its funding will be extended for another two years.

The program was launched in Sault Ste. Marie in 2022 to complement the existing front-line emergency paramedic service already in operation. It provides four fully trained non-emergency paramedics to provide preventative care directly to seniors and other vulnerable people in the community.

The paramedics offer a whole host of services for the patients, who are mostly seniors, including ongoing medical management, remote monitoring and blood and urine work. 

"Through this program, we have worked closely with community health and social service partners to identify the gaps between the care people need and their available resources," said paramedic chief Katie Kirkham, in a report to the local Social Services administration board. "These gaps in care are helped through home visits, city-wide mobile wellness clinics in various senior buildings, and in conjunction with primary caregivers. The program aims to reduce 911 and emergency department use while providing better, more appropriate care to people who need it in the community."

In October, the program had 273 patients enrolled for home visits. Paramedics were also seeing approximately 200 additional patients through bi-weekly clinics held at four different locations within Sault Ste. Marie.

The program costs about $1 million per year to operate and the Ministry of Long-Term Care recently committed $2 million to fund it through to March 2026.

"This continued funding will allow us to sustain and further develop the program, ensuring that individuals can receive appropriate care in the comfort of their own homes while reducing strain on emergency services," said Kirkham in the report.