KAWARTHA LAKES-The Ontario government says it is providing up to $82.5 million over three years to expand the province’s Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program to 22 additional communities including Kawartha Lakes. This program is fully funded by the provincial government and operational across 33 Ontario communities including Haliburton County.
“After decades of neglect, our government has and is continuing to take action to fix Ontario’s long-term care sector,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock. “The expansion of the Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program to Kawartha Lakes will support our local seniors by providing them high-quality care when and where they need in their own homes, while they wait for a bed in long-term care.”
The program works alongside primary care and home and community care to provide the following services to eligible seniors:
- Access to health services 24-7, through in-home and remote methods, such as online supports;
- Non-emergency home visits and in-home testing procedures;
- Ongoing monitoring of vital signs to prevent escalation of chronic medical conditions;
- Assessments, referrals, diagnostic procedures, and point-of-care testing.
“The City of Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service is pleased to see the long-term care community paramedicine program expanded to our community. Community Paramedic programs have demonstrated that they are scalable and sustainable solutions that bridge identified gaps in care locally. This investment will support seniors by providing quality care and service needed to live longer and in the comfort of their homes. It will provide our seniors, their families and caregivers comfort and peace of mind they deserve while potentially delaying the need for long-term care,” said Randy Mellow, CMM III – EMS Exec/EMP Chief of Paramedics, City of Kawartha Lakes.
Early feedback from participating communities indicates a reduction in rates of hospital admissions and an increased integration with primary care according to the province.
The program is fully funded by the provincial government and is operated in partnership with municipalities and District Social Services Administration Boards.
