By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Northumberland County council heard good news at its February meeting – funding has been received that will allow Northumberland Paramedics to launch a Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care Program in the coming weeks following confirmation from the province of up to $7.5 million in one-time funding between now and 2024.
Northumberland Paramedics Chief Susan Brown recalled her 2021 appearance before county council seeking “support and advocacy” to make the application to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Application was made in November, and the good news came Monday.
“The aim of this project is to maintain and keep seniors with the county in their homes safer for a longer period of time,” Brown told council – a consideration all the more important given the unreliability of the long-term-bed supply.
The $7.5-million in funding will come in three stages – $1.5-million for the period ending March 31, $3-million for April 1 through 2023, and $3-million to run through 2024. These funds will cover 100% of the program – new vehicles, training, equipment, supplies and ultimately the human resources needed to deliver home-based care to eligible seniors.
This investment from the province will enable Northumberland Paramedics to significantly expand the reach of its existing Community Paramedicine program, which Deputy Warden Mandy Martin had her own compliments for.
“I have personal experience with this program,” Martin said.
“If it hadn’t been in place, I’m not sure I would be alive today. It has been an absolute Godsend in my personal life and personal situation – incredible service from the paramedics. They are unbelievably wonderful. This is just great news.”
The program expansion made possible by these funds will deliver services to eligible seniors, including:
· Access to health services 24-7, through in-home and remote methods, such as on-line supports;
· Non-emergency home visits and in-home testing procedures;
· Ongoing monitoring of vital signs to prevent escalation of chronic medical conditions; and
· Assessments, referrals, diagnostic procedures and point-of care testing.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with our community partners to increase access to high quality in-home services for eligible seniors awaiting admission to long-term care,” Brown said in a subsequent press release.
“This program has demonstrated significant value elsewhere in the province, improving quality of life for vulnerable seniors. With funding now in place, we will be finalizing logistics and referral pathways, with plans to have Community Paramedics actively delivering this program for Northumberland residents by April.”
Northumberland Paramedics will work alongside primary-care and home and community-care providers to deliver these services, which will be available, through referral, to:
· Those on the waitlist for long-term care;
· Those who have been assessed as eligible for long-term care by a Care Co-ordinator but who are not yet on the waitlist; and
· Those who are soon to be eligible for long-term care.
“This expansion of Northumberland Paramedics’ Community Paramedicine Program is an opportunity to enhance both patient experience and health outcomes for our community, by increasing resources dedicated to helping seniors live safely and comfortably in their own homes for longer periods,” Warden Bob Crate said.
“We thank the Province for this investment in strengthening health system capacity in Northumberland.”
“It’s extremely exciting that the Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program is being launched in the coming weeks,” Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini said in the press release.
“This will be an enormous step towards providing seniors with high-quality care right in their own homes.”
Early feedback from participating communities indicates reduction in rates of hospital admissions and an increased integration with primary care.
The program is fully funded by the provincial government, and is operated in partnership with municipalities and District Social Services Administration Boards.
