Community Paramedics perform home visits for clients who require additional support in the community. Clients are predominantly identified through three sources:
- Paramedic referrals from emergency calls (i.e. CREMS referrals)
- Analysis of frequent requests for Paramedic service via 911, and
- Direct referrals from program partners, clients, or caregivers.
The home visit program assists vulnerable clients in Toronto through:
- Advanced medical assessment, vital signs evaluation, and diagnostics
- Identifying and addressing gaps in healthcare and social supports
- Healthcare system navigation and connecting clients to additional community supports and services
- Working with partner agencies and primary care to support and augment existing services and programs
- Coaching and education on various topics, including chronic disease management
- Support with hospital discharge planning and providing outreach to clients returning home from hospital
- Collaboration of multi-agency support via situation tables (e.g. FOCUS) and patient care conferences
- Vaccinations for homebound individuals
- Follow-up with frequent users of 911 and the emergency departments they attend (where appropriate)
The program provides non-emergent home visits; typically referrals are responded to within one to three business days for booking of an initial home visit. If a more urgent visit is required, partners are encouraged to call
416-397-4322 and select
option one to speak to the Community Paramedicine Program directly. For medical emergencies please call 9-1-1.
