About the Eastern Ontario Community Paramedic Programs

About Community Paramedicine

Community Paramedicine is about helping community members who wish to remain at home safely, and ensure they receive the care they need. The program works by having a patient referred to the paramedic services through a caregiver, hospital, physician, or with self signup through this website.


Community Paramedicine (CP) is an innovative and evolving model of community-based healthcare designed to provide more effective and efficient services at a lower cost. Community Paramedicine allows paramedics to function outside their traditional emergency response and transport roles to help facilitate more appropriate use of emergency care resources while enhancing access to primary care for medically underserved populations.

Our goals

Provide more effective, efficient and timely healthcare

Avoid unnecessary transports to hospital emergency departments

Relieve emergency department overcrowding

Reduce hospital readmissions

Lower healthcare costs

Build better communities

We're using community paramedics to extend the reach and care available through the EMS system to help fill gaps

How we're helping

In-home wellness checks

Regular drop-ins can be scheduled for eligible adults who live alone to ensure their health and wellbeing.

Remote patient monitoring

Blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation and blood glucose can be collected during each visit.

Connecting you to local services

Paramedics will connect you with other local services to help keep you safe, healthy and independent at home.

FAQ

  • Are there Community Paramedics in my community?

    If you would like to find out if there are Community Paramedics in your area, you can enter your address into our search tool and it will show the programs available in your community. 

  • What types of services are offered by Community Paramedics?

    Community Paramedics act as a healthcare navigator by aiding the client via connection to different services that can help them maintain or improve their health. This can be done through in-person visits with routine monitoring of their health and providing support to meet the needs of the clients. 

  • Does a Community Paramedic replace current health care systems such a primary care physicians and/or Home and Community Care?

    No! The Community Paramedics are an extension of the primary care providers. The paramedics goal is not to replace specialized services, but to work together to improve care on an individual basis. 

  • How do I get referred to this program?

    Referrals to the Community Paramedicine program are received through Home & Community Care Support Services (HCCSS), family physicians that have previously worked with our programs, paramedics, and by self submissions or family referrals.

  • Are there any costs for the Community Paramedicine program?

    No! This program is fully funded by the provincial government and provides additional care for seniors in the comfort of their own homes before admission into long-term care.