SASKATOON – The Saskatoon Health Region is launching a pilot project to try and cut down on non-emergency visits to emergency rooms. Over the last three months, 200 residents from 30 long-term facilities in the city were taken by ambulance to emergency departments.
While some were for legitimate reasons, nearly one-third were not. As part of its “better every day” 14-day challenge, SHR officials say one paramedic from MD Ambulance will be on-site at Porteous Lodge and Luther Special Care to perform geriatric assessments.
READ MORE: Saskatoon Health Region hits halfway mark of its 14 day challenge
“If we can do that ER avoidance and possibly admission avoidance, it’s a win-win for everybody,” said Gerry Schriemer, CEO of MD Ambulance.
“It’s better for the patient, moreso, and it’s also better for the healthcare dollars.”
Rod MacKenzie says the goal is to reduce the need to transport patients to emergency department by 25 per cent over a three-month period.
“This is an opportunity for us to see if faster assessment and appropriate intervention can keep people out of our emergency departments,” said MacKenzie, who is the director of rural integration, emergency medical services and acute care access line with the health region.
“It doesn’t make a lot of sense to take someone to hospital by ambulance and have them wait for care they can just as easily receive in the comfort of their own homes.”
The pilot project, based on a similar model in Nova Scotia, will begin on March 9.
Comments