BRUCE COUNTY – Bruce County Paramedic Services is receiving one-time funding of $40,000 from Ontario Health to establish and provide remote care monitoring in homes and communities across the county. The new remote care management program will operate within Bruce County’s Community Paramedicine Program and will see local community paramedics monitoring clients’ vital signs and well-being remotely.
Remote care monitoring will be utilized for clients with chronic diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure, diabetes, and hypertension, as well as frail seniors. This increased funding will also provide the opportunity to educate clients about their chronic diseases, and how to properly manage chronic conditions confidently at home. Remote care monitoring has been shown to lead to reduced 911 and emergency department utilization, hospital admissions, hospital re-admissions, and alternative level of care (ALC) rates.
Ontario Health funding like this supports the recovery of the health system by increasing access to care options within the community and transforms how care is delivered. It is anticipated that this new program will ensure that patients get the most appropriate care to improve self-management and enhance recovery to optimize clinical outcomes.
The remote care monitoring equipment, and digital platform to allow real-time monitoring of vital signs, will be provided by Future Health Services, a local not-for-profit social enterprise. Bruce County will work collaboratively with the Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team and partners during program implementation and operations. 2023 and 2024 funding for remote care monitoring will continue via existing funding from the Ministry of Long-Term Care.
