Durham Funding for Community Paramedicine

Sent Via Email

April 28, 2021

Hon. Christine Elliott Deputy Premier and Minister of Health 5th Floor, 777 Bay Street The Regional Toronto, Ontario M7A 2J3 Municipality of [email protected] Durham Hon. Merrilee Fullerton Office of the Regional Minister of Long-Term Care Chair 6th Floor, 400 University Avenue Toronto, Ontario M7A IT7 605 Rossland Rd. E. [email protected] Level 5 PO Box 623 Dear Ministers: Whitby, ON L1N 6A3 Canada 905-668-7711 Re: 2014-04-14 Durham Funding - Community Paramedicine 1-800-372-1102 [email protected] We are writing to you today to respectfully request the same amount durham.ca of funding for the Region of Durham Paramedic Services (RDPS) Community Paramedicine Program as provided to other John Henry Regional Chair and municipalities across the province. In November 2020, the Central CEO East Local Health Integration Network (CELHIN) announced that the Region of Durham would be receiving $494,000 to start up a Community Paramedicine Program to support patients in the High Intensity Supports at Home Program. To date, the Region of Durham has only received $452,000 of funding. Comparable paramedic services have received provincial commitments of multi-year funding that allows those services to effectively plan and implement a successful strategy that benefits patients and the community.

This funding was for the provincial fiscal Q4 2020/2021 and had to be used by March 31, 2021. RDPS successfully onboarded eight experienced paramedics on November 30, 2020 and our program was operational as of December 21, 2021. To date, our community paramedics have provided critical services to patients and the community during the pandemic. These services include receiving CELHIN referrals and providing in-home care and services to 37 patients in the community and providing over 1,100 hours of direct

If you require this information in an accessible format, please contact [email protected] at 1-800- 372-1102 ext. 2009. Hon. Christine Elliott Hon. Merrilee Fullerton Durham Funding Community Paramedicine April 28, 2021 Page 2 of 3 support to the Region’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout. To be clear, without this original funding we would not have been able to provide paramedic resources to the initial vaccine rollout. This would have had a drastic negative impact on the Region of Durham and Lakeridge Health mobile vaccine clinics for long-term care and retirement home residents.

To date, the Region of Durham has received no further funding letters from either the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Long-Term Care to allow the Community Paramedicine Program to continue. We were asked by the CELHIN to continue services in April in good faith on the anticipation that funding would eventually be announced. As a result, we have continued the program for April as an unfunded program.

Across the province, and within the Region of Durham, paramedics have proven their high value during the pandemic as health care professionals and a system partner to support our most vulnerable residents. Our team continues to support our partners in COVID-19 response with mobile testing, vaccination support, and keeping residents safe in their homes while our long-term care homes do their best to prevent and manage outbreaks.

For our program to continue, we require sustainable multi-year provincial funding. We applaud your government’s efforts to provide this funding to other municipalities as this allows them to effectively plan and implement successful Community Paramedic Programs that will provide a meaningful impact to their communities. As you know, Budget 2021 committed $160 million over three years to 33 communities across Ontario, including our counterparts in the Regions of York, Halton, Waterloo, Niagara, Peel and Toronto. Durham Region residents are experiencing the same stressors and require the same support that the province has provided to other municipalities.

We remain hopeful that Durham’s exclusion from the provincial Budget was simply an oversight. However, if we do not receive notification of comparable funding, we will have no option but to notify our community partners that the program is coming to an end on June 1. This is disappointing as we have heard many positive and impactful stories from residents. Enclosed you will find letters of support from our system partners advocating for the continuation of funding of this important initiative. Hon. Christine Elliott Hon. Merrilee Fullerton Durham Funding Community Paramedicine April 28, 2021 Page 3 of 3

Sincerely,

John Henry Regional Chair and CEO c. Heather Watt, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Health Blair Hains, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Long-term Care David Piccini, MPP- Northumberland-Peterborough South Jennifer French, MPP-Oshawa Laurie Scott, MPP-Haliburton/Kawartha Lakes/Brock Lindsey Park, MPP-Durham Lorne Coe, MPP-Whitby Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP- Pickering/Uxbridge Rod Phillips, MPP-Ajax B. Jamieson, Clerk, Township of Brock J. Gallagher, Municipal Clerk, Municipality of Clarington R. Walton, Regional Clerk, Durham Region M. Medeiros, City Clerk, City of Oshawa S. Cassel, City Clerk, City of Pickering L. Fleury, Acting Clerk, Township of Scugog D. Leroux, Clerk, Township of Uxbridge C. Harris, Clerk, Town of Whitby E. Baxter-Trahair, CAO, Region of Durham Dr. R. Kyle, Commission and Medical Officer of Health, Durham Region S. Danos-Papaconstantinou, Commissioner, Social Services, Durham Region T. Cheseboro, Chief, Region of Durham Paramedic Services Brock Community Together We're Building a Healthier Community Health Centre

March 18, 2021

Ministry of Health/ Ontario Health,

Re: Continued Funding for Durham Region Paramedicine Program - Letter of Support

Brock Community Health Centre (Brock CHC) is pleased to hear of the support that the Region of Durham Paramedic Services has been able to provide in the community due to recent one-time CE LHIN funding to implement a Paramedicine Program in Durham Region. As a partner in the Durham OHT, we were excited to know that the Community Paramedic Program was in a position to support Lakeridge Health and Durham Region Public Health in the early stages of the vaccine efforts and have provided 1100 HHR hours of support to the vaccination effort.

Brock CHC is advocating for continued funding for the Community Paramedicine Program and believe it will help to strengthen our community's COVID response. In the event that funding does not continue beyond March 31st, the capacity for the Region of Durham Paramedic Services to support Lakeridge Health or the OHT or other system partners in COVID response will be significantly impacted. The impact of this potentially discontinued funding will be felt by the whole region. We count on the nimbleness, commitment and consistent system thinking that Durham Region Emergency Medial Services leadership has provided for the Region.

If you require more information about Brock Community Health Centre, our mandate or our support of the Durham Region Paramedicine Program, please contact me directly at 705.432.3322.

Sincerely, (.J)? C/~

Janet McPherson Executive Director

Administration Beaverton Cannington 720 Simcoe St., P.0. Box 279 Beaverton Thorah Health Centre 64 Cameron St. E., P.O. Box 69 Beaverton, Ontario LOK lAO 468 Main St. E., P.O. Box 279 Cannington, Ontario LOE lEO T: 705.432.3322 I F: 705.426.4215 Beaverton, Ontario LOK lAO T: 705.432.3388 I F: 705.432.3389 T: 705.426.4636 I F: 705.426.3330

April 9, 2021

Oshawa Site The Honourable Christine Elliott 115 Grassmere Avenue Oshawa, ON Deputy Premier and Minister of Health L1H 3X7 T 905-723-0036 [email protected] F 905-723-3391 GAIN Team The Honourable Merrilee Fullerton 3790 Brock Street North (Taunton Mills) Minister of Long-Term Care Whitby, ON [email protected] L1R 0H2 T 289-509-0601 x1409 F 905-665-7178 Dear Ministers, Children and Youth Mental Health Team I am writing to you today in support of the Region of Durham Paramedic Services’ 1615 Dundas Street East (RDPS) request for sustainable, multi-year funding to support the Community Suite 211 Whitby, ON Paramedicine Program. L1N 2L1 289-509-0603 x3200 In November 2020, the Central East Local Health Integration Network (CELHIN) Ajax Site announced that the Region of Durham would receive funding to develop a 360 Bayly Street West, #5 Community Paramedicine program to support patients in the High Intensity Ajax, ON L1S 1P1 Supports at Home Program. Since the launch of the program in December 2020, the T 905-428-1212 community paramedics have provided critical services to patients in the community. F 905-428-9151 Patients have received in-home care services and more than 1,100 paramedic hours Pickering Site have directly supported the Region’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, including mobile 1450 Kingston Road, #17 Pickering, ON clinics to vaccinate residents in long-term care and retirement homes. L1V 1C1 T 905-420-0333 Throughout the pandemic, paramedics have demonstrated their great value as F 905-420-3541 health care professionals supporting our most vulnerable residents. Durham’s

community paramedics continue to support system partners with mobile testing, www.careachc.ca vaccination support, and care for residents in their homes. They have also supported [email protected] Carea’s High Priority Community Strategy Program by assisting with swabbing at the Charitable Registration COVID-19 Pop Up Test Sites in hot spots throughout Durham Region. #119158137 RR0001

…./2

Carea Community Health Centre is dedicating to creating an inclusive environment that welcomes diversity. Every One Matters! Every One is Welcome! Accessibility: We are committed to complying with all applicable standards as set out in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). If you have accessibility needs and require alternate formats or other accommodations, please contact our Resource Development Manager at 905-723-0036 x 1229 or [email protected]

-2- We appreciate the recent provincial budget announcement of long-term funding for Community Paramedicine Programs in other municipalities. The announcement permits the effective planning and implementation of a program that has meaningful impact in those communities. It is critical that the Region of Durham receive the same sustainable, multi-year funding to permit the Community Paramedicine Program to continue. Sincerely,

Francis Garwe, BSc-MIS, MAOM-HCM, CCMP Chief Executive Officer

April 12, 2021

The Honorable Christine Elliott Deputy Premier and Minister of Health [email protected]

The Honorable Merrilee Fullerton Minister of Long-Term Care [email protected]

Dear Ministers, I am writing to you today in support of the Region of Durham Paramedic Services’ (RDPS) request for sustainable, multi-year funding to support the Community Paramedicine Program.

In November 2020, the Central East Local Health Integration Network (CELHIN) announced that the Region of Durham would receive funding to develop a Community Paramedicine program to support patients in the High Intensity Supports at Home Program. Since the launch of the program in December 2020, the community paramedics have provided critical services to patients in the community. Patients have received in-home care services and more than 1,100 paramedic hours have directly supported the Region’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, including mobile clinics to vaccinate residents in long-term care and retirement homes.

Throughout the pandemic, paramedics have demonstrated their great value as health care professionals supporting our most vulnerable residents. Durham’s community paramedics continue to support system partners with mobile testing, vaccination support, and care for residents in their homes. As a provider of home care rehabilitative services, Community Advantage Rehabilitation has come to rely on the partnerships foster with the Paramedicine Team and the support they provide our home care clients.

is critical that the Region of Durham receive the same sustainable, multi-year funding to permit the Community Paramedicine Program to continue.

Sincerely,

Paulette Wannamaker Vice President, Operations & Administration Home and Community Care Division, Lifemark Health Group

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The Honourable Christine Elliott Deputy Premier and Minister of Health [email protected]

The Honourable Merrilee Fullerton Minister of Long-Term Care [email protected]

Dear Ministers, I am writing to you today in support of the Region of Durham Paramedic Services’ (RDPS) request for sustainable, multi-year funding to support the Community Paramedicine Program. In November 2020, the Central East Local Health Integration Network (CELHIN) announced that the Region of Durham would receive funding to develop a Community Paramedicine program to support patients in the High Intensity Supports at Home Program. Since the launch of the program in December 2020, the community paramedics have provided critical services to patients in the community. Patients have received in-home care services and more than 1,100 paramedic hours have directly supported the Region’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, including mobile clinics to vaccinate residents in long-term care and retirement homes. Throughout the pandemic, paramedics have demonstrated their great value as health care professionals supporting our most vulnerable residents. Durham’s community paramedics continue to support system partners with mobile testing, vaccination support, and care for residents in their homes. As a community health care provider we know how critical community based care is to reduce pressure on hospitals and increase access to care. We appreciate the recent provincial budget announcement of long-term funding for Community Paramedicine Programs in other municipalities. The announcement permits the effective planning and implementation of a program that has meaningful impact in those communities. It is critical that the Region of Durham receive the same sustainable, multi-year funding to permit the Community Paramedicine Program to continue.

Sincerely,

April 9, 2021

The Honourable Christine Elliott Deputy Premier and Minister of Health [email protected]

The Honourable Merrilee Fullerton Minister of Long-Term Care [email protected]

Dear Ministers,

I am writing to you today in support of the Region of Durham Paramedic Services’ (RDPS) request for sustainable, multi-year funding to support the Community Paramedicine Program.

We appreciate the recent provincial budget announcement of long-term funding for Community Paramedicine Programs in other municipalities. The announcement permits the effective planning and implementation of a program that has meaningful impact in those communities. It is critical that the Region of Durham receive the same sustainable, multi-year funding to permit the Community Paramedicine Program to continue.

Sincerely,

Jeff Warford, CPA, CA, BAcc Chief Executive Officer

117 King Street East, Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 1B9, (T) 905-723-8551, (F) 905-723-6319

April 13, 2021

The Honourable Christine Elliott Deputy Premier and Minister of Health [email protected]

The Honourable Merrilee Fullerton Minister of Long-Term Care [email protected]

Dear Minister Elliott and Minister Fullerton:

Re: Durham Region Community Paramedicine Expansion

On behalf of the Durham Ontario Health Team (OHT) we are pleased to offer our support for continued funding for the Community Paramedicine Services Expansion program.

The Region of Durham Paramedic Services have a long-standing presence in our community, in particular their program’s capacity to work alongside Home and Community Care and other services supporting target populations. These target populations include High Intensity Supports at Home Program patients who need supplemental community paramedicine services beyond home and community care, seniors and others with similar needs in the community with a high risk of hospital readmission and being designated as ALC, and Episodic Care Delivery patients as part of the COVID-19 response planning. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the necessity for these services have increased dramatically in order to respond to the community needs.

The Community Paramedic Program was one of several successful local initiatives that helped facilitate the early stages of vaccine efforts for the region’s most-vulnerable populations. With this program, they have provided 1,100 health human resource hours of vaccine work to support both Lakeridge Health and Public Health in Durham Region. Without them, the number of hours provided would not have been possible.

For the program to continue, sustainable multi-year funding from the Province is required. In the event funding does not continue the Community Paramedicine Program will cease to exist, impacting the 32 patients in the community currently being supported who would be transitioned back to Central East LHIN for continuation of services. It also means that any capacity to support Lakeridge Health, the Durham OHT, or other system partners in COVID-19 response is significantly impacted. Without confirmation about continued funding, this creates significant challenges for the Paramedic Services to effectively plan and implement their Community Paramedicine programs using a multi-year strategy.

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We strongly urge the continuation of funding in an effort for continued partnership with The Region of Durham Paramedic Services, including exploring ways to leverage early successes into a broader network of local support in the effort to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and the successful implementation of the Durham OHT.

Thank you for considering this letter of support,

Stephen Gray, CPA Kirsten Burgomaster, B.Kin (Hons), PhD (Physiol) Chief Executive Officer Interim RVP, Central East Regional Cancer Program Medical Associates of Port Perry Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) & North Durham Family VP, People and Corporate Strategy Lakeridge Health

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1001 Burns Street East, Unit 2, Whitby, ON L1N 6A6 Tel: 905.665.1711 or 1.800.564.9534 Fax: 905.665.9961

March 18, 2021

Ontario Health and CELHIN

Re: Letter of Support for Community Paramedicine Program

Partners in Community Nursing is genuinely pleased to advocate for the continuation of this critical program.

They have demonstrated a solid commitment not only to Durham OHT priorities by supporting ALC clients when discharged home, but they have also shown a high level of engagement in the COVID19 Response.

Durham Paramedicine collaborates effectively with a vast number of services in the Durham Region, has been able to pivot quickly in response to our community and is a highly respected colleague.

As a community partner and OHT member, Partners in Community Nursing is confident that this program should continue with your full support so that our community can continue to receive the best care possible.

Heather Smith, RN Vice President

V:\SeniorMgmnt\DEPUTY CHIEF JOHN RICHES\Community Programs\Community Paramedicine\Letters of Support\PICN Letter of Support for Community Paramedicine Program.docx

April 12, 2021

The Honourable Christine Elliott Deputy Premier and Minister of Health [email protected]

The Honourable Merrilee Fullerton Minister of Long-Term Care [email protected]

Dear Ministers,

I am writing to you today in support of the Region of Durham Paramedic Services’ (RDPS) request for sustainable, multi-year funding to support the Community Paramedicine Program.

As of 2020, there are approximately 45,000 people aged 75 and older living in Durham Region. There is expected to be a 60.6% increase in the next 10 years and a 145.7% increase in the next 20 years.1

In the Durham Region, there are approximately 26,279 older adults living with complex health conditions that makes them eligible for LTC, and at risk for hospitalization and designated ALC. The number of these complex older adults is projected to increase by 51.5% in the next 10 years, and 102.2% in the next 20 years. This is concerning, given the demand for LTC

1 https://rgps.on.ca/resources/frailty-estimates-by-census-division-and-ontario-health-region/

99 Toronto Rd. Suite 101 Port Hope Ontario L1A 3S4 905-376-7822

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from older adults in the Central East Region, which has the highest median wait in the province at 273 days.2

Community based services for these vulnerable older adults are more important than ever. In other areas in the Central East Region with established Community Paramedicine, such as Haliburton, these services are a proven approach to keeping older adults in the community and helping to end hallway health care.

Sincerely,

Rhonda Schwartz Executive Director (Interim) Seniors Care Network

2 https://www.hqontario.ca/System-Performance/Long-Term-Care-Home-Performance/Wait-Times

99 Toronto Rd. Suite 101 Port Hope Ontario L1A 3S4 905-376-7822

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