ORANGEVILLE, ON – October 19, 2020 – The Hills of Headwaters Collaborative, a local partnership of doctors, health, social and municipal agencies has launched a Remote Patient Monitoring Program for patients with probable or confirmed COVID-19. The goal is to connect patients with healthcare resources and ensure that patient with probable or confirmed COVID-19 have their needs met in the comfort of their own home.
“I am actively involved with my care team on a regular basis and my knowledge of my condition is significantly improved. The Community Paramedic checks in on me regularly and provides instructions on how to manage my health,” remarked a patient in the Dufferin-Caledon COVID-19 Remote Patient Monitoring Program.
Dufferin County Paramedic Service is operating this new program, using some tools already in place from their Community Paramedic Program. Additional funding has been provided to the Paramedics for this program which includes the purchase of low-tech equipment to monitor vital signs. The equipment which includes blood pressure and oxygen saturation monitors, can be provided to the patients in the program, if they don’t already have them. Vital signs are shared daily to the program, by the patients or their caregivers as part of their remote monitoring. In person visits are also done by community paramedics, who are also responsible for the installation, retrieval and equipment cleaning as patients move out of the program.
Up to 100 patients are supported at any given time, by a Community Paramedic, Physician, Respiratory Therapist and Home and Community Care Coordinator. Referrals to the program are made by healthcare providers in the community or at the hospital.
“Community paramedicine has, and continues to be, an excellent option to address our lack of community resources, and it plays an important role in developing alternative and innovative ways to meet patient care needs. Remote Patient Monitoring is just one example of how the community paramedics can adapt and provide care utilizing new technologies in an interdisciplinary manner. The monitoring of medically complex and COVID-19 positive patients will truly benefit the community and improve access to healthcare options,” remarked Dr. Karen Sandhu, Physician Champion for the Dufferin-Caledon COVID-19 Remote Patient Monitoring Program.
The Hills of Headwaters Collaborative has worked in partnership throughout the pandemic to pool resources, create solutions and provide the best support possible to people living in Dufferin-Caledon. The team has partnered on a regional approach to logistics, explored digital health solutions and looked at how to navigate the impacts on mental health due to the pandemic.
“The Remote Patient Monitoring Program is yet another example of how our community stands together. We lean on one another; whether it be caregivers helping us develop ideas or healthcare providers ensuring we plan for the best possible outcomes. Our strong history of collaboration has never been more apparent than it is now,” said Tom Reid, Chief, Dufferin County Paramedics.
Patients receive safe, quality care from the comfort of their own home and remain in enrolled in the program until they test negative for COVID-19 or are symptom-free for 72 hours.
Additional Resources
The Hills of Headwaters Collaborative website
Ontario Health
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
Media Contact on behalf of the Hills of Headwaters Collaborative
Jennifer Hamilton, MA, MBA Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations, Headwaters Health Care Centre | Cell/Text: 519-278-5085| Email: jhamilton@headwatershealth.ca
