To be leaders in expanding and transforming the type of healthcare services provided to patients in their home, be trusted by patients and their families, and valued by acute care and community healthcare partners. Improve access and provide innovative approaches to mobile medicine for healthcare that traditionally requires an EMS, emergency department or hospital admission.
Community Paramedicine is an innovative concept that is emerging across Canada and the world, and has operated in Alberta since 2012. It expands on the success and proven ability of Paramedics to provide safe, timely, mobile medical care in the community setting. Community Paramedics are specially trained to provide short-term treatment for low-acuity illnesses, under the medical direction of Physicians and Nurse Practitioners.
Community Paramedics have additional training and Education which focuses on:
There are a few different teams, structured to meet the specific needs of the community and patient.
CommunityResponse Team (CRT)
Community Response Teams (CRTS) are staffed by a single Community Paramedic or Nurse Practitioner (Edmonton only) and are supported by direct physician oversight. A Community Response Team is an SUV rather than ambulance and staff wear a specific uniform. CRTs have all the necessary medical equipment to provide needed diagnostics and treatments in the patient’s home. They do not transport patients to the hospital, if transportation is required it will be facilitated with existing local EMS resources.
City Center Team (CCT)
The City Center Team is a mobile resources staffed by a single or two-person Community Paramedic and supported by direct physician oversight. The City Center Team provides mobile acute care services focused on medical assessments, diagnostics and treatments for health concerns that are not currently being managed because of the difficulties association with homelessness, mental health issues and addiction.
Crisis Response and EMS (CREMS)
In collaboration with AHS Addictions and Mental Health, the CREMS team includes a Paramedic and a Mental Health Therapist. This team provides timely mental health and crisis intervention, providing referrals and access to extended health services, thereby keeping patients in the community.
Assess Treat and Refer (ATR) Program
The Assess Treat and Refer program focuses on patient– centered care by connecting people to needed community healthcare services and working in collaboration with the patient’s physician and care team to bridge medical assessments, diagnostics and treatments into the patient’s place of residence. This is accomplished by either a care provider in the community identifying a need and referring the patient to a Community Response Team for short term treatment, or an EMS crew identifying a need and referring their patient to any number of social or medical supports available through the ATR coordination centers.
There are two Assess Treat and Refer Coordination Centers:
MIH and Community Paramedic Teams provide coverage to patients within a 50km distance from their home location.
North Zone
Edmonton Zone
Central Zone
Calgary Zone
South Zone
Patients with unmet healthcare needs including:
For full contact information, please go the Mobile Integrated Healthcare contact page.
“The Community Paramedic Program has prevented many unnecessary emergency visits while providing advice, interventions and support to patients and their families.”
Dr. Asaph Ksienski, Hospitalist
“Collaboration with the Community Paramedic Program was an invaluable extension of the work our clinic normally does.”
Dr. Ian Scott, CCDMC
Patient & Family Feedback
“I feel lucky to be receiving care in my home.”
“Very good, very thoughtful, very caring.”
“Everything within this level of care is outstanding.”
“All excellent! I don’t like to go to the hospital and the service was great!”
