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High Intensity Supports and Community Paramedicine – Issue Report - January 28, 2021

Report To: Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board
From: Paul Myre, Chief (A) Paramedic Services

Date: January 28, 2021

Re: High Intensity Supports and Community Paramedicine – Issue Report
 

Purpose

To provide the Board with information on one-time funding under the High Intensity Supports and Community Paramedicine program funded by Ontario Health.
 

Background

The health system is preparing to address challenges related to the second wave of COVID-19 and the seasonal flu. Over the summer, Ontario Health and service providers have worked hard to expand the capacity of home and community care services to meet the needs of existing and new clients, including those returning home after scheduled procedures in hospital. In addition to rebuilding capacity, the home and community care system faces new demand. Both hospitals and long-term care homes will have reduced bed capacity to serve patients/residents in order to maintain infection control (long-term care homes) and prepare for COVID/flu surge (hospitals). As a result, there is a need and an opportunity for home and community care to undertake an enhanced role in supporting system capacity.

Home and Community Care can help address reduced bed capacity by assuming care responsibility for hospital Alternate Level of Care (ALC) patients with a Long-Term Care destination and other patients with similar needs on Long-Term Care waitlists. This will ensure high needs patients continue to receive care when beds are in short supply.

Community Paramedicine can be leveraged as ‘capacity enhancer’ to work alongside Home and Community Care and other services.

Ontario Health regions are asked to implement the High Intensity Supports at Home program and expand Community Paramedicine services. Ontario Health regions will determine the local accountable organizations and provide the one-time funding.
 

Community Paramedicine Initiative

Late last fall, Paramedic Services received the opportunity to submit a business case to receive one-time funding to support Ontario Health with anticipated challenges related to the second wave of COVID-19 and the seasonal flu. As indicated above, the most significant of these challenges are that both hospitals and long-term care homes will have reduced bed capacity to serve patients/residents in order to maintain infection control and prepare for COVID/flu surge. As a result, Ontario Health proposed an initiative that would see Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB Paramedics supporting our Home and Community Care partners in undertaking an enhanced role in supporting system capacity. This initiative will see referrals from health sector partners to our Community Paramedicine program requesting the following high intensity services:

  • Weekly home visits for our community members requiring complex care while awaiting entry into the Long-Term Care system
  • Patients discharged home from the acute care to mitigate setting that require on going care in their homes.
  • Potential COVID-19 vaccinations when they become available for our most marginalized and vulnerable.
  • Ongoing wellness checks, falls risk assessments, and social needs analysis including the independent living requirements.
     

Conclusion

Paramedics Services were successful in securing $140,000.00 in one-time funding to provide capacity to support these vital services until March 31st, 2021. Planning and staffing have commenced in order to meet the anticipated increased demand in the coming weeks. Meetings with health sector partners have also begun to take place to ensure a collaborative and strategic approach for these partnerships.