Government of Ontario invests $6.5 million in Frontenac Paramedics’ Community Paramedicine program

The Government of Ontario announced today that it is investing $6.5 million over four years to enhance Frontenac Paramedics’ Community Paramedicine program. The funds are intended to support people on the wait list for long-term care, those who are eligible for long-term care, or those soon to be eligible for long-term care, by providing in-home care that stabilizes their illness or disease trajectory.

Frontenac Paramedics has provided community paramedicine wellness clinics to residents of Frontenac County and Kingston since 2014 and have been integral in helping with our community’s response to COVID-19. Community Paramedics will use the new funds to provide diagnostic procedures, assessments, testing, routine monitoring, and medical treatments in the comfort of people’s own homes. Paramedics will advise and assist patients with navigating the healthcare system. Services will be prompt and flexible, adapting a proactive response to each individual’s changing circumstances.

“Frontenac Paramedics launched its Community Paramedicine program in 2014,” says Frontenac Paramedics Chief, Gale Chevalier. “We’re all very proud of the difference the program has made in the community to date but we could see very clearly that, with the right resources, there is more work we could do to help people stay safely in their homes longer. This funding will go a long way to that end. I’d like to thank the Province of Ontario for providing these new resources. We’re eager to put them to good use for the residents of Kingston and Frontenac County.”

“Our Community Paramedicine program is a model for other services and this funding will help Frontenac Paramedics to better support some of our most vulnerable citizens,” says Frontenac County Warden, Ron Vandewal. “I’d like to thank Frontenac Paramedics’ leadership team who have provided the Province with support information over the past several months and to Frontenac County Council and the members of the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus who have championed community paramedicine over the past two years. This is a key part of our advocacy efforts with the Province.”

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Matt Mills, Communications Officer County of Frontenac
Phone: 613-548-9400 x 305 Email: mmills@frontenaccounty.ca