NEWS RELEASE
COUNTY OF SIMCOE
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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused industries, businesses, organizations and healthcare service providers to adapt to new requirements and protocols. County of Simcoe Paramedics are no exception, having expanded the Community Paramedicine program to provide services to our most vulnerable residents during this medical pandemic.
Launched in 2015, the County’s Community Paramedicine program and its Community Paramedics have been serving residents across Simcoe County. The program has several arms which include paramedic referrals to community services, 911 frequent caller follow-up and an in-home chronic disease management program.
While 9-1-1 calls remain the primary focus of County of Simcoe Paramedic Services, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to Community Paramedics being called upon to collaborate with primary-care providers, community leaders and agencies throughout the County of Simcoe to establish and conduct weekly vulnerable population health clinics within shelters in Barrie, Angus, Orillia, Midland and Collingwood.
The County of Simcoe Paramedic Services has also been supporting Public Health, the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and the Central LHIN with COVID-19 swabbing of home-bound individuals and swabbing in long-term care homes during outbreaks.
“County Paramedics have stepped up to play an important role in our response to COVID-19 and our eventual recovery,” said Jane Sinclair, General Manager, Health and Emergency Services Division, County of Simcoe.
“Our Community Paramedicine program has been very successful in alleviating pressures on our local health care system and we’re pleased that we were able to apply the specialized training and skills of our Community Paramedics to further support and assist some of our most vulnerable residents during this pandemic," said Sinclair.
While Paramedic Services is supporting with community testing, paramedics do not test for COVID-19 during 9-1-1 calls. If you have mild symptoms and are not sure if you require a test, please follow up with your primary care provider, Telehealth Ontario or Public Health.
To follow the county’s efforts to support of our communities through the COVID-19 pandemic, like or follow County of Simcoe on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To learn more about the County’s Community Paramedicine program, visit https://www.simcoe.ca/dpt/ps/paramedicine.
County of Simcoe is composed of 16 member municipalities and provides crucial public services to county residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.
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