In a medical system that seems to be under constant bombardment — economic, pandemic, demographic — it’s refreshing to see solid evidence to support a new idea that improves care while saving valuable time and money. It’s exactly what has been happening in several Canadian provinces that have been implementing innovative palliative programs to improve paramedic support to patients with palliative care needs. The idea is that paramedics, with some extra training, can provide patient-centred care in the homes of people living with cancer and other life-limiting conditions.
It is intended to make patients as comfortable as possible as they spend their last days at home, which is where most Canadians say they’d prefer to die . Read more: Emergency department crowding has gone beyond hallways onto ambulance ramps. Now there’s nowhere left to wait.
Palliative care at home It’s not uncommon for patients with palliative care needs to call 9-1-1 when they are in distress due to issues such as breathing difficulties, nausea or falling. This is often the situation when 24-hour/seven-days-a-week palliative care support is not available — which is nearly everywhere in Canada. About 90 per cent of the time , when an individual with palliative care needs or a family member calls 9-1-1 for an ambulance, it means a trip to a hospital emergency department for the patient and two paramedics, who all wait together until the hospital can take the patient into its care.
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