Hastings-Quinte paramedics are one step closer to taking part in a proposed palliative care study.
The Hastings-Quinte Emergency Measures committee considered the issue when it held a virtual meeting on Wednesday.
The Palliative Care Quality Improvement Study is being managed by the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and has included the Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario, the region’s paramedic services, Ontario’s Home and Community Care agency and palliative care leaders.
If approved, it would involve a program having paramedics help palliative patients remain at home.
The study does not involve any additional costs.
Chief of Paramedic Services Doug Socha called it a “unique opportunity.”
The study would allow paramedics to treat patients who are receiving end of life care at home.
“So there’s certainly a lot of homes and community care as well as the Hospice Centre and really I think its about trying to understand all those partnerships.”
The patients in the study would be those registered in a provincial Home and Community Care database and part of a palliative care program.
Socha said it’s about partnerships.
“Certainly those are experts and we want to make sure that everybody’s onside when we’re looking at, you know, really treating the patient with all the resources that are available, not individual silos.”
Socha indicated the hope is to cut the number of 911 calls.
Paramedics are limited by current rules and the program might lead to some changes.
He explained, “Unfortunately, when we get there, the only option we have is to take them to a hospital, which a lot of times really isn’t the best place for them.”
Paramedics may see a decrease in time they must spend in emergency rooms waiting until patients are transferred to hospital care.
Alberta and Nova Scotia have both undertaken this work successfully.
The committee approved the local participation and this recommendation goes to Hastings County council later this month.
The study proposal is expected to be submitted to Ontario’s Ministry of Health this month, but it’s not known when approval could come or when the study would begin.
Meanwhile local paramedics have begun training.
If it goes forward, the study could have results that would be used across Ontario.
