Grey County is included in a provincial funding announcement for community paramedicine.
The government has announced $89 million in funding to support Ontario seniors through Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care.
The program operates across Ontario including in Grey County, and sees specially trained community paramedics making regular visits to enrolled patients in the comfort of their own homes.
The County explains that while working closely with each patient’s primary care practitioner, community paramedics can help monitor patients, assess and treat symptoms, and if necessary, escalate care. Grey County has been providing this program for several years. The program also accepts patients who are without primary care.
Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care says in a statement, “By making this program permanent and delivering care to seniors in the comfort of their homes, CPLTC will continue to protect Ontario’s long-term care system, reducing avoidable hospital visits, supporting caregivers and improving seniors’ quality of life.”
Grey County initially received funding for the program in 2021 for three years. A two-year extension was given to 2024. The permanent funding announcement for the program is being praised by Grey County Council.
Grey County Warden Andrea Matrosovs says, “Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care has been a tremendous asset for Grey County residents for several years and the benefits of the program are numerous and invaluable.”
In addition to the announcement of permanent funding, Grey County also learned its Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care funding allocation will be increasing by an additional $500,000.
That means it will now be 100 per cent funded by the province through the Ministry of Long-Term Care and will not impact the County tax levy.
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Paul Vickers says in a statement, he’s pleased to see the program continue, noting, “In recent years, community paramedicine has become a hallmark of our local healthcare system,” adding, “Helping patients where they are most comfortable has been a breakthrough in local healthcare. I am pleased to see that CPLTC programs like the one in County of Grey will get to build on their progress in this space and continue helping patients in our community in the years ahead.”
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