The provincial announcement that funding has been extended to the Paramedicine Program is good news for the District of Nipissing, according to the Chair of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board, Mark King.
“The benefits of this program have become evident during its pilot period, not just in value for dollars spent, but in quality, patient-focused care throughout the district as we look towards the future and the inevitable needs of an aging population,” says King.
The DNSSAB has received confirmation from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care that funding for the paramedicine project has been extended to March 31, 2017. The pilot paramedicine program in Nipissing District was implemented in July of 2014 in conjunction with the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC).
In December of 2014, one full-time paramedic was put in place in the Nipissing District whose function outside of the emergency response role was to help facilitate more appropriate use of resources and/or enhance access to primary care for under served populations.
Since the Community Referral by Emergency Medical Services (CREMS) program was implemented in December 2014, and up to December 2015, 54 referrals were submitted by paramedics, and 42 new and/or existing services were enhanced. During the 417 home visits monitored from March to December 2015, there were 109 referrals to agencies such as the North Bay Regional Health Centre, CCAC, Mattawa General Hospital, Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) Nurses in North Bay & Barry’s Bay emergency departments, and ad hoc visits.
In the time period from December 2014 to March 2015, the Community Paramedic monitored the CREMS, hosted Wellness Clinics and established relationships with our local partners to determine how everyone could work to benefit our citizens.