'It's all about dignity': At-home health-care program that uses paramedics in B.C. receives glowing reviews
While multiple levels of government scramble to fund and bring solutions to an overwhelmed primary health-care system, BC Emergency Health Services' community paramedicine (CP) program has been quietly working to serve patients in their homes and prevent them from unnecessary trips to busy emergency departments.
The CP program works in partnership with regional health authorities and local care teams in rural and remote communities.
"My role is more proactive medicine," said primary care paramedic Mike Wright. "I am the doctor's eyes and ears."
He's among 167 paramedics in B.C. who've completed training to become a CP since the program was tested in 2015 and rolled out in 2016.
Wright has been practising since 2018, working out of the Lake Cowichan Ambulance station, which covers a large territory including Lake Cowichan, Youbou, and Ditidaht Village.
He visits roughly 28 patients a week who have been referred to him from a primary care provider when they have a potentially life-ending or life-altering disease.
He makes trips to their homes for appointments of 45 minute to one hour – checking their vitals, assessing how they're doing, and helping them navigate a complex health-care system.
"If I see something that is concerning, I'm lucky enough where I can call the doctor right from the house, right beside the patient," he said.
BCEHS' most recent progress report finds there's been a 39 per cent drop in 911 calls made by patients who received community paramedicine services.
Wright estimates that eight times out of 10 he can resolve a medical concern inside the patient's home.
"We keep them in the home longer, which is invariably what they want," he said.
HONOURING TONY’S WISHES
We followed Wright to a pair of patient homes in the late fall.
His first stop was to see 87-year-old Tony Bond, who has since died.
Wright put on his face mask, grabbed a small bag of equipment for medical assessments, and then knocked on his patient's door. Inside, the cancer patient sat on his living room chair for his checkup which included a few basic questions on how he was doing.
"He makes me feel better," said Bond. "It's very nice to think that somebody gives a damn."
Tony Bond is pictured. (CTV News)In a brief interview, he didn’t talk about any discomfort he may have been feeling. Instead, he made a single wish clear.
"I don't want to go to the hospital," he said. "That's the last place on earth I want to go. And I don't want to die there either."
Wright confirms that wish was honoured. Bond died in his home in November, which he had said the CP program would make it easier to do.
"It's all about dignity and respecting what the patient wants while we're providing that level of care to them," said Wright at the time of our fall interview.
Bond wasn't the only one expressing his gratitude.
FRIENDSHIP AND TRUST
Margaret Beldessi said she became connected to the program through her late husband. He was a patient first, then Wright continued caring for Beldessi after her partner died in 2020.
"It's made a big difference," said the 94-year-old. "I don't have any worries."
"If I get up in the morning and something is bothering me, I can just phone Mike," she said.
She said he’s become a good friend and a person she can rely on – which is especially helpful since taking a trip to her doctor isn't easy.
As he wrapped up his visit, Wright reassured her: "You can call me if you need anything."
Margaret Beldessi, a patient with BC Emergency Health Services' community paramedicine program, is shown in her home. (CTV News)
GROWING PROGRAM
In addition to reducing calls to 911, BCEHS's 2022 progress report finds the CP program is also meeting objectives to bridge health-care gaps and stabilize paramedic staffing in rural and remote communities in our province.
The program expanded from 99 to 100 communities this year.
"I think the sky is the limit on this and I think there's a huge need for it," said Wright.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6970476.1721410082!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
The CrowdStrike outage is affecting health-care services in Canada. Here's what you need to know
A global technology outage that's grounded flights and delayed border crossings is also challenging health-care services in the country, as issues with Microsoft services persist.
Quebec woman's death warns of dangers of cosmetic surgery abroad
Brian McConnell's daughter, Florence McConnell, died after a liposuction surgery complication in Morocco. Now, he warns others against undergoing cosmetic surgeries abroad.
Interior residents get ready to flee as B.C. fire tally soars past 300
The out-of-control Shetland Creek fire in British Columbia's southern Interior has more than doubled in size due to what the wildfire service describes as "significant overnight growth" and more accurate mapping.
Polar bear 'Baffin' dies at Calgary Zoo after not resurfacing from pool
A polar bear died in its enclosure at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo on Friday.
'I feel cheated': Here are the products hit hardest by shrinkflation
Canadians who feel like they are getting less bang for their buck at the grocery store these days might be right. A new report shows the effects of shrinkflation are real.
Tentative deal to end LCBO strike on hold as province accuses union of introducing new demands
The LCBO strike appears to be back on just hours after a tentative agreement was announced.
Woman guilty of murdering, dismembering boyfriend in Nanaimo, B.C.
A 28-year-old British Columbia woman has been found guilty of killing and dismembering her boyfriend on Vancouver Island nearly four years ago.
opinion Trump's assassination attempt not a political winner
Danger and fear are so pervasive throughout the national political ethos it is now the norm, writes Washington political columnist Eric Ham.
What a Donald Trump presidency means for Canada
The most striking thing about walking the floor of the Republican National Convention (RNC) is seeing just how much this is Donald Trump's party, CTV News' Vassy Kapelos says.