Niagara EMS establishes new health base in Welland

Program provided from Fitch Street Plaza has paramedics take lower priority calls that may not require hospital visit

Getting patients the right care at the right time at the right place is the goal of a Niagara Emergency Medical Services program that’s expanded to south Niagara.

“Not everyone needs to go to the hospital,” said Bryce Brunarski, Niagara EMS superintendent of operations and public relations, ahead of a two-day open house for the Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program.

The program, complete with paramedics and vehicles, is set up at the Fitch Street Plaza in Welland.

“We don’t open up new bases too often,” said Brunarski.

While set up as an EMS base, paramedics in the program don’t rush out for every 911 call.

Both Brunarski and MIH commander Marty Mako said paramedics will respond to lower

priority calls determined by 911 dispatchers. They can also respond to high priority calls as needed.

“It could be something like a fall, lift assistance, twisted ankle, sprains, upper respiratory problems or back pain,” said Mako, adding paramedics can also assign themselves to calls.

Mako said a patient could be told to see their doctor, attend a walk-in clinic or visit an urgentcare centre.

“These are people that don’t need a visit to an emergency room but do need some sort of health assessment. They can benefit from a visit from our team,” said Mako.

Brunarski said Niagara EMS is expanding the teams, set up in 2018, thanks to funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and ran out of space at fleet headquarters in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The funding allowed MIH teams to operate 24-7 and for 12 additional full-time equivalent paramedics.

The teams consist of advanced and primary care paramedics, and depending on the circumstances or need, could include health professionals such as occupational therapists, mentalhealth nurses and emergency communication nurses.

Paramedics operate individually and respond in SUVs, not ambulances, the two men said.

Paramedics will triage and assess each patient, and, if necessary, call for an ambulance to transfer a person to hospital.

When it came time to expand, Mako said Niagara EMS looked at data and determined south Niagara was the right choice to locate a base.

“We zoned in on Welland,” said Mako.

The Fitch Street base is not a walk-in clinic, and there may not be paramedics on hand during the day because they could be on calls.

In addition to lower priority calls, MIHs teams look after seniors living at home, those on waiting lists for long-term-care homes or on a trajectory that will see them land in long-term care, through the Community Paramedicine for Long Term Care program.

As of April 2021, there were 330 seniors referred to the program.

More than 130 seniors in Welland alone fall under the program, said Mako, adding that’s another reason why the MIH program was established in the city.

“The focus is to keep them safe, healthy and at home for as long as possible,” said Mako, adding seniors must be referred to the program by a health-care professional.