The Brant-Brantford community paramedicine team is on pace to manage around 600 referrals by the end of 2025, mostly from primary care physicians, 911 services, Ontario Health at Home, and even self-referrals from community members.
The Brant-Brantford Paramedic Service is expected to respond to nearly 37,000 ambulance calls this year, reflecting an almost 75% increase in call volume over the past decade, as reported in their March service metrics. However, many of these calls involve issues that could be addressed outside of emergency departments, without utilizing 911 resources. This is where the community paramedicine program steps in.
Program Overview
Launched in 2015, the community paramedicine program started small but has since grown significantly in response to the needs of the community and the interests of staff. The program now encompasses nine key facets, including:
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Regular clinics across Brantford and Brant County
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Support for individuals with chronic diseases
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An everyday functional movement program
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A palliative care wish program
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Outreach to at-risk and vulnerable populations
Many of these services are tailored to seniors, the demographic most likely to require emergency medical services, according to the March paramedic services report.
Impact of the Program
The program appears to be achieving its goals. According to Glen Cunnane, deputy chief of community paramedicine for Brant-Brantford, clients who enroll in the program report using 911 and visiting emergency departments 40% less frequently.
In recent years, the service brought on a medical director, which has expanded the range of care community paramedics can offer. This includes services like wound care, medication administration, urinalysis, changing sensors on wearable glucose monitoring devices, and administering flu shots.
This year, the team is on track to receive around 550 medical orders, which could result in over 2,000 procedures. These orders include tasks such as B-12 injections and biweekly blood draws, Cunnane explained.
The blood work component has proven particularly popular, so much so that it could potentially grow into a full-time program in the future, he added.
Expanding Services and Future Plans
The community paramedicine team is on track to reach approximately 600 referrals by year-end, with most referrals coming from primary care physicians, 911, Ontario Health at Home, or from individuals who self-refer. They’re also looking to expand their services by introducing three new outreach-focused programs by early fall. These would address respite care, postpartum care for unhoused individuals, and car seat clinics, contingent on available resources.
However, with provincial funding set to expire in March 2026, the program’s future scope is uncertain. Currently, the program is supported enough for 11 full-time paramedics. But, given the increase in referrals and medical orders, the service anticipates needing nearly double the staff and an additional community paramedic superintendent soon, according to a March update.
A Focus on Care and Dedication
Cunnane attributes much of the program’s success to the dedication and care of the paramedics on the ground. “They’re the ones out there, boots on the ground, making a real difference in the community,” he said.
For more information or to refer someone to the program, visit brant.ca/paramedic.
This report is part of the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada, and written by Celeste Percy-Beauregard of the Hamilton Spectator.
