By Sarah Klein
(SHAUN MCLEOD / CHRISD.CA FILE)
To help ease the pressure put on ambulances and Winnipeg’s emergency departments, community paramedics will assist with non-emergency care through a new pilot program.
The Community Paramedic Program will see paramedics in the field assisting patients who don’t require immediate transfer to a hospital’s emergency department. Paramedics will perform a medical assessment and make arrangements to connect the patient with an appropriate community health resource such as the Urgent Care Centre or Community Health Access Centre.
“This is another important initiative we’re undertaking in collaboration with Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Services to help us achieve our patient flow targets by working to ensure patients get the right care in the right place at the right time,” said Arlene Wilgosh, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
The community paramedic will have online medical control access with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service medical directors to ensure patients are receiving the best possible care. The pilot project will run six months.
