Paramedics, Palliative Care initiative saves money, time, trips to emergency rooms

A study published in the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine demonstrated that the Paramedics and Palliative Care initiative, led by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and Healthcare Excellence Canada, saves an average of $2,773 per 9-1-1 call. The program, which began in 2011 in N.S., P.E.I. and Alta., and later expanded to other provinces including N.B.,  trained over 7,500 paramedics. It resulted in 60% of 9-1-1 calls for patients with life-limiting conditions being treated at home, aligning with patient preferences and reducing costs.