Oxford County Paramedic Services wins Ontario Health System Quality and Innovation award

The award recognizes the meaningful work and patient care happening in the Remote Care Monitoring and Chronic Disease Management program

Oxford County Paramedic Services, in partnership with local allied agencies, received the Ontario Health System Quality & Innovation Award – Category 2: Patient Reported Experience Measurement (PREM) for its Remote Care Monitoring & Chronic Disease Management Program.

The award was presented on November 25 at the University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Paramedic Services learned of its accomplishment during the ceremony as one of three finalists.

Oxford County Community Paramedics are a specialized team of caregivers. They take the time to connect with patients on a personal level, helping them understand how biometric readings and daily choices affect their overall health. PREM data shows that patients who feel heard report fewer visits to their family physician or the emergency department, resulting in a better experience for patients and caregivers, and meaningful system-wide cost savings.

Oxford’s Remote Patient Care Monitoring and Chronic Disease Management program has proven to reduce emergency visits and improve patient outcomes.

Oxford’s Remote Patient Care Monitoring fiscal year 2022/2023 (218 patients)

• 91% of onboarded patients had one of four primary chronic diseases (congestive heart failure, coronary obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and hypertension)
• 61% reduction in 911 calls and 72% reduction in emergency room visits within six months
• 72% of patients indicated less need for 911 or emergency department visits

Oxford’s Remote Patient Care Monitoring fiscal year 2024/2025 (224 patients)

• 95% patient satisfaction
• 97% would recommend the program to others
• 67% reported reduced need to visit their physician or nurse practitioner
• 96% felt listened to

The application process for the award included a patient testimonial from Ted, an 84-year-old who is a survivor of eight heart attacks and one stroke. Ted stated that he was extremely pleased with the program and that it gave him peace of mind knowing that he was being monitored daily.  

Paramedic Services also received written support from two executive partners: Teresa Martin with the Oxford Ontario Health Team (OHT) and Randy Peltz, Director of the Oxford County Community Centre.

Comment 

Ryan Hall, Chief, Oxford County Paramedic Services

“Oxford County Paramedic Services is committed to the community health and public safety of the people who live in Oxford County. Remote Patient Care Monitoring and Chronic Disease Management allows our paramedics to reach patients where they live. This approach gives residents confidence that their chronic conditions are being closely monitored and expertly managed.”   

Jamie Walter, Superintendent of Community Paramedicine, Oxford County

“Our quantitative PREM data collection shows that a patient who is heard feels less need to visit their family physicians and less need to visit their local emergency departments. This equals cost savings for the system.”

Background

• Launched in August 2022 by Oxford County Paramedic Services in partnership with the Oxford Ontario Health Team, the Remote Patient Care Monitoring and Chronic Disease Management program allows paramedics to provide in-home health checks and remotely monitor the health condition of community members who frequently call on emergency services.
  
  
• Oxford County Community Paramedics are a specialized team that understands the significant impact chronic diseases have on individuals, families, and the broader health system.
  
  
• Remote monitoring patients range in age from 22 to 98 years old and typically have moderate to severe chronic diseases, such as Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure, hypertension and diabetes.
  
  
• The program offers a 90-day in home Remote Care Monitoring for moderate to severe chronic disease exacerbations of COPD, heart failure, diabetes, and hypertension, in which community paramedics monitor vitals remotely and perform cyclical in home in person assessments with patients.