Huron County paramedicine program will continue through 2023

HURON – An initiative that brings medical care to the homes of residents is set to continue throughout this year.

Huron County council passed a motion greenlighting the Community Paramedicine Program in 2023 after learning that $399,400 in funding from Ontario Health is set to continue and become baseline funding in the future.

The program delivers care to high-risk patients in their homes with the aim of minimizing the number of patients being admitted to hospitals. Patients are referred to the program by family health teams, Home and Community Care Support Services, Huron-Perth public health and the county’s paramedic referral program.

The program provides care that includes COVID-19 swabs and vaccinations, influenza clinics, remote patient monitoring, patient transitions from hospitals, homebound lab work, wound care and more.

Paramedics can also connect patients to other health services and perform assessments to help find the best path for their care.

Though the program is set to receive baseline funding from Ontario Health, emergency services chief Jeff Horseman said the largest portion of funding for the program comes from Ontario’s Ministry of Long-Term Care, which provides $1 million annually to support the home-care efforts.

But that funding is set to expire in 2026.

“There is no indication that that funding will be extended at this point, and there is no indication after 2026 whether that funding will be increased or not,” he said.

The program has been able to remain fully funded through provincial contributions, and Horseman said the county was able to return some of the funding it received.

“We have not gotten to a point, at this point, where we’re spending county levy dollars on the Community Paramedicine Program,” he said. “Between those two funding envelopes, we’re currently funding the entire Community Paramedicine Program.”

Horseman noted the baseline funding from Ontario Health has yet to set a framework for increases in the future to ensure the program can continue to operate without requiring contributions from the county.

“It’s a wonderful program (for) our community,” said Coun. John Becker. “I see the guys out doing their job throughout the community, and the families really appreciate the care that’s given to the people that they visit. It really helps keep them in their homes where they’re comfortable.”