The program, called the Community Referrals by Emergency Medical Services (CREMS) program, was introduced to Halton EMS last year.

It allows paramedics to connect patients who require additional health care to their local Community Care Access Centres (CCAC) for assessment and referral to the best community agencies or services.

Essentially, it means paramedics can make referrals to CCACs on patients’ behalf.

So far, more than 200 referrals have been received. Most of the patients referred have received either additional health-care services or new in-home services.

“We’ve been receiving positive feedback from patients and caregivers of patients who have been referred through the program,” said Brenda Stradling, an emergency department nurse and co-lead of the project.

Each year, paramedics from Halton, Peel and Dufferin County respond to thousands of 911 calls for an ambulance. Many of these calls are for medical conditions that have worsened, or a crisis situation.

“Many of our patient emergencies result from chronic conditions and behaviours that when monitored or addressed could be prevented,” said Peter Engler, Peel Regional Paramedic and co-lead for the CREMS project.

The program is an initiative of the Halton Peel Emergency Services Network, which consists of a wide variety of health-care representatives.