Impact of community paramedic interventions on transfers from long term care to emergency departments: results of a systematic review

Munene, Abraham; Alaazi, Dominic A.; Mathew, Jane; McLane, Patrick; Cummings, Greta G.; Holroyd‐Leduc, Jayna

doi:10.1007/s43678-021-00214-8

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 4 publications

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“…Community paramedics were not clearly utilized within LTC as an alternative to ED transfers during the pandemic. Despite not finding an increase in community paramedic visits throughout the pandemic, this cannot negate the extreme value that community paramedics provide to this population [ 22 , 23 ]. The need for community paramedics during the pandemic may have been impacted by the fact that supports were put into Alberta LTC facilities to enable staff to provide additional medical care to residents, in an attempt to limit unnecessary interaction with outside healthcare providers and thus limit exposure to the virus.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on transfers between long-term care and emergency departments across Alberta

Wyer,

Guterman,

Ewa

et al. 2024

BMC Emerg Med

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Background Long-term care (LTC) was overwhelmingly impacted by COVID-19 and unnecessary transfer to emergency departments (ED) can have negative health outcomes. This study aimed to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted LTC to ED transfers and hospitalizations, utilization of community paramedics and facilitated conversations between LTC and ED physicians during the first four waves of the pandemic in Alberta, Canada. Methods In this retrospective population-based study, administrative databases were linked to identify episodes of care for LTC residents who resided in facilities in Alberta, Canada. This study included data from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021 to capture outcomes prior to the onset of the pandemic and across the first four waves. Individuals were included if they visited an emergency department, received care from a community paramedic or whose care involved a facilitated conversation between LTC and ED physicians during this time period. Results Transfers to ED and hospitalizations from LTC have been gradually declining since 2018 with a sharp decline seen during wave 1 of the pandemic that was greatest in the lowest-priority triage classification (CTAS 5). Community paramedic visits were highest during the first two waves of the pandemic before declining in subsequent waves; facilitated calls between LTC and ED physicians increased during the waves. Conclusions There was a reduction in number of transfers from LTC to EDs and in hospitalizations during the first four waves of the pandemic. This was supported by increased conversations between LTC and ED physicians, but was not associated with increased community paramedic visits. Additional work is needed to explore how programs such as community paramedics and facilitated conversations between LTC and ED providers can help to reduce unnecessary transfers to hospital.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%