Community Paramedic Wellness Clinics Improving Health Outcomes and Reducing Emergency Calls

At Monday’s Community and Emergency Services Committee meeting, General Manager of Community Well-being Tyler Campbell provided the committee with an update on the impact of the Community Paramedicine program, highlighting that wellness clinics in community housing are successfully reducing reliance on emergency services while improving access to healthcare for residents facing barriers.

The report outlined the success of the Community Paramedicine (CP) model, which has evolved from a grassroots initiative into a structured, evidence-informed system that supports aging in place and chronic disease management. Supported by funding from Ontario Health and the Ministry of Long-Term Care, as well as municipal investment, the program currently sees between 1,800 and 2,000 individuals.

The report also included data that further highlighted the impact of this program:

• Research indicates that CP clinics in multi-unit buildings can decrease 911 calls by up to 31 per cent.
• A single weekly four-to-five-hour clinic results in an estimated annual cost avoidance of approximately $53,000.
• Community Paramedics complete over 13,000 patient interactions annually across various initiatives, including shelter clinics, home visits, and preventative health clinics.

The wellness clinics operate on a "neighbourhood model of care," using common rooms in community housing to address unmet health needs and provide "upstream" interventions before residents become chronically unwell. This approach allows paramedics to build trust with residents, identify issues such as medication non-compliance early, and assist with health system navigation.

“The reach and impact of the wellness clinics goes beyond numbers,” said Tyler Campbell, General Manager of Community Services. "By establishing a consistent presence in community housing, our paramedics are building vital relationships that allow us to deliver equitable healthcare, support our most vulnerable citizens in aging at home, and ensure the right care is provided at the right time."

The program currently operates wellness clinics in various community housing locations across Greater Sudbury, including buildings in Capreol, Chelmsford, and Sudbury.