May 30, 2016 - The City of Thunder Bay is pleased to receive confirmation from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that funding for the Community Paramedicine Program (CPP) will continue through March 2017.

"We are very happy to learn that Community Paramedicine can continue another year and that Thunder Bay is being recognized for its ongoing leadership, efforts, and
contributions to improving health care in Ontario through our local community
paramedicine initiatives," said Mayor Keith Hobbs. "We know first-hand how valuable this program has been to the people that need it, both in the City of Thunder Bay as well as communities in the District."

Superior North Emergency Medical Services (SNEMS) paramedics in the District of Thunder Bay have been participating in the CPP since 2015. There are currently five pilot locations which include Upsala, Marathon, Terrace Bay, Schreiber and Manitouwadge. 

"The Community Paramedicine program allows us to work with family health teams and other health care providers to help people get the right care, at the right time and at the right place," said Acting SNEMS Chief Wayne Gates.  "It's a very proactive approach to overall health and wellness.

Under the CPP, paramedics make home visits and will often, through their interaction with these clients, detect health issues before they become acute emergencies. They are then able to provide this information to the health care providers and treatment plans are made.  These treatment plans often include the client receiving the care they need directly in their home. The overall goal is to increase overall health and wellness while remaining longer in their home with independent living.

Within the City of Thunder Bay, SNEMS Community Paramedic Program is working closely with the North West CCAC. They provide us with referrals to clients who they believe would benefit from the CPP regular wellness check. This is to help patients who don't readily or easily have access to a primary care provider and often end up calling 911 resulting in them being transported to the TBRHSC Emergency Department.

"By being proactive, we can often identify issues that can be referred to a local primary care provider which result in them not having to rely on the Emergency Department," said Gates.

"We are really looking forward to the next year as we expand the program to help many more of the marginalized people in the City," said Andrew Dillon, Deputy Chief Professional Standards. "We have worked with Grace Place and the Salvation Army to help those who often do not have access to primary care health providers because of their current life situations. For some of these clients, the CPP is the only medical assessment they have had in a long time and we have been able to identify issues for some of them and refer them to a clinic for follow up - saving an unnecessary visit to the TBRHSC  Emergency Department. We also have the capacity to refer to other service providers if the issue is not solely a medical one."

The CPP has been able to provide bi-weekly wellness clinics at these locations with over 430 patient assessments.

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Contact: Andrew Dillon, Deputy Chief Professional Standards, 625-4615, cell 627- 4155