The County of Lambton's Community Paramedicine Program's caseload has grown to over 700 clients.
Launched in 2017, the program provides proactive, community-based health care to residents across Lambton County who are medically complex, socially vulnerable or face barriers accessing traditional health services.
In a report to the Committee of the Whole on Wednesday, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Manager Stephen Turner said the program has approximately 719 clients currently, predominantly older adults living with chronic conditions like heart failure, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), diabetes, or cognitive decline.
Turner said a significant number of those individuals don't have a primary care provider.
He said over 380 referrals were received, over 4,100 in-home visits were completed, and over 2,100 wellness checks were conducted in the past 12 months.
Paramedics work collaboratively with primary care, public health, and social service partners to deliver in-home assessments, chronic disease management, health system navigation and preventative care.
Turner said the consistent follow-up and health monitoring has helped reduce the likelihood of crisis events, improved medication adherence and client stability at home.
The program was expanded last year to include community wellness clinics.
Over 800 residents have attended a clinic to receive free chronic disease screening, vaccine administration and health education.
The program also provides mobile wellness clinics to area Indigenous communities and collaborates with Indigenous health navigators and leadership on culturally safe care approaches.
The $1.3 million program is funded through three provincial grant streams.
A four-year funding commitment was announced in 2021.
The province announced earlier this fall the funding would be made permanent, but the grant amount was unchanged.
As a result of wage and benefit cost increases, Turner said expenses were reduced and one full time equivalent job [unfilled at the time] was cut this year.
