P.E.I. community paramedic teams cut down on emergency department visits, province says

P.E.I. launched the Community Paramedic Response Units in May 2024. (Source: Government of P.E.I.)

The Community Paramedic Response Units – which were introduced in Prince Edward Island a year ago – have cut down on overall visits to the emergency department, according to the provincial government.

The province launched the program last May in an effort to “provide high-quality care directly to the community,” according to a news release. Each unit is staffed with an advanced care community paramedic.

So far the units have responded to more than 1,000 low-urgency medical calls. They have also scheduled more than 275 follow-up visits with patients in their homes.

“This has been very beneficial for Islanders and has had a positive impact on our healthcare system,” said Minister of Health and Wellness Mark McLane in the release. “Fewer people are ending up in the emergency department, which in turn creates more capacity for paramedics to respond to emergency situations in the community when needed.”

Prior to the new program, paramedics were required to take all patients who called 911 to the emergency department. They can now assess each situation to determine if a patient can be treated in their community or need to be transported.

The province says the community paramedics can help patients with prescription refills and access to other health-care professionals.

For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.