I have been a paramedic for 5 years, and over the last year and a half I have been in the role of “community paramedic” in Chemainus.
This is still fairly new in B.C for emergency health services, having just been introduced in 2015.
The goal of the program is to help bridge some healthcare gaps and provide more support to communities that need it.
I often get asked the difference between what I do and what normal paramedics do. I describe it as “preventative medicine” vs “emergency medicine”.
We work to help prevent future hospital visits in 3 ways: home visits, education, and wellness clinics/health promotion.
With the home visits, I get referrals from someone on the persons healthcare team: doctor, nurse, case manager, etc. I then use these visits to help people develop management strategies for their diabetes, COPD, or heart failure.
I also provide that extra line of communication with their healthcare team as I am able to see them more often and notice trends in blood pressures/sugars etc.
With education, I get asked to help out around the community and at events. Some of the things I have done are naloxone workshops, AED education and talks on advanced care planning.
Wellness clinics and health promotion are more setting up blood pressure/blood sugar clinics and participating in local events that promote good health such as walking groups and health fairs.
While I only provide services to Chemainus/Crofton/Thetis and Penelakut island, there are lots of communities on Vancouver island that have community paramedics.
Georgia Nelson
Community Paramedicine – Chemainus,
BC Emergency Health Services
Provincial Health Services Authority
250-210-2550. Georgia.Nelson@bcehs.ca