UCPR Community Paramedics quickly respond to increased testing in long-term care homes
The United Counties of Prescott and
Russell (UCPR) quickly responded to increased testing for COVID-19 in
its long-term care homes, in large part due to its community
paramedicine program established by the Prescott and Russell Emergency
Services.
In a memorandum distributed to health system organizations and
partners on April 21, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Ontario
Ministry of Long-Term Care indicated: “The province will immediately
begin proactive surveillance testing to understand the current status of
COVID-19 in individual homes, including the targeted testing of
asymptomatic residents and staff.”
The directive further requested that local public health units
immediately begin developing a local implementation plan, to “facilitate
testing of every resident and staff at each long-term care home.” In
accordance with the memorandum, and in support and at the request of the
Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), the Prescott and Russell Emergency
Services proceeded to test 114 patients and staff at the Pinecrest
Nursing Home in Plantagenet on Thursday, April 23.
“All the residents and staff tested were asymptomatic, meaning that
they did not demonstrate or produce any symptoms of COVID-19,” explained
Marc-André Périard, Director of the Prescott and Russell Emergency
Services. “These tests were performed by our community paramedics, who
were able to complete this task within a three-hour period.”
The results of these tests are currently pending results. Should any
of the tests reveal positive cases, the UCPR community paramedics will
be able to support the treating physicians and help ease symptoms if
they were to occur.
“Our community paramedicine program reduces the need for these
patients to be transported to emergency departments, by treating early
signs while keeping people in the comfort of their residences,” stated
Pierre Leroux, Warden of the UCPR Council. “Early detection is the key
to positive outcomes, and through the partnership between the Ministry
of Health, the Ministry of Long-Term Care, the Eastern Ontario Health
Unit and the Prescott and Russell Emergency Services, we are helping to
ensure the well-being of our most vulnerable residents.”