Halifax’s Extended Care Paramedic Program

And this increase in seniors will have an impact on a variety of health services in Canada. More and more seniors turn to emergency services for assistance when they are experience a health crisis. This can result in a backlog when paramedics are answering calls, delays that can mean the difference between life and death.

The Extended Care Paramedic program, out of Halifax, hopes to address this potential backlog by assigning paramedics to long term care facilities for 12 hour shifts. Extended Care Paramedics are trained in senior health care and work collaboratively with patient’s health care teams and families to ensure the best possible care. Extended Care Paramedics will be able to treat health problems, like falls, onsite, thus reducing the number of emergency room visits.

To find out more, please see Peter Fragiskatos’ article in the Toronto Star.