Program has paramedics meeting with citizens in community housing to provide wellness advice, support and chronic disease management
Sudbury’s Community Paramedic Wellness Clinics are working to improve the health of people in community housing, said a news release from the City of Greater Sudbury.
Tyler Campbell, the General Manager of Community Well-Being, said this week that the Community Paramedicine (CP) program, which includes wellness clinics in community housing, is successfully reducing reliance on emergency services while improving access to health care for residents facing barriers.
Campbell was presenting a report to a Community and Emergency Services Committee meeting. Campbell outlined the success of the CP model, which has evolved from a grassroots initiative into a structured, evidence-informed system that supports aging in place and chronic disease management, said the release.
Supported by funding from Ontario Health and the Ministry of Long-Term Care, as well as municipal investment, the program currently sees between 1,800 and 2,000 individuals, said the release.
Campbell’s report further indicated the success of the program in other ways.
Research indicates that CP clinics in multi-unit buildings can decrease 911 calls by up to 31 per cent, said the release.
A single weekly four-to-five-hour clinic results in an estimated annual cost avoidance of approximately $53,000 in higher health costs. Community Paramedics complete more than 13,000 patient interactions annually across various initiatives, including shelter clinics, home visits and preventative health clinics, said the release.
The wellness clinics operate on a “neighbourhood model of care,” using common rooms in community housing to address unmet health needs and provide “upstream” interventions before residents become chronically unwell, said the release.
This approach also allows paramedics to build trust with residents, identify issues such as medication non-compliance early, and assist with health system navigation, said the release.
Campbell said the program allows access to health care for many people who might not get past social barriers.
“The reach and impact of the wellness clinics goes beyond numbers,” said Campbell.
“By establishing a consistent presence in community housing, our paramedics are building vital relationships that allow us to deliver equitable healthcare, support our most vulnerable citizens in aging at home, and ensure the right care is provided at the right time.”
The program currently operates wellness clinics in various community housing locations across Greater Sudbury, including buildings in Capreol, Chelmsford and Sudbury.