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Community paramedics improve health care for home care clients

LETHBRIDGE- Those receiving home care in southern Alberta will now have less stress.

Alberta Health Services will now offer a program where residents will receive additional care at home.

The Community Paramedic Program will now offer a specially trained paramedic to be part of a patient’s home care team.

“What we are really hoping to accomplish is provide services in the clients home and I think through that we would decrease emergency visits and trying to give he right care at the right place and time,” says Paul Weiss the Manager of Home care for the South Zone.

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The community paramedics will be able to monitor the heart, vital signs, collect lab specimens, administer medications, treat wounds and perform other medical procedures.

“The role is to provide advanced assessments and diagnostic tests and to keep the home care clients in their home where they want to be and to avoid them going to the emergency room if possible,” adds Deb Branden, a Community Paramedic.

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Deb will travel with a home care nurse starting next month and is expected to assist between 30 and 40 home care clients.

Alberta health officials say the bottom line is home care clients will be able to remain in their homes longer, and make fewer trips to hospital

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