Paramedics and Palliative Care Program Outcomes

The Paramedics and Palliative Care program equipped paramedics and other healthcare providers to provide appropriate, patient-centred palliative care closer to home and community, resulting in improved efficiencies in the healthcare system.

How Paramedics and Palliative Care contributed to better healthcare in Canada

Decreased transports to hospital in both rural and urban areas

• 52.8 percent of calls enabled people receiving palliative care to remain in their homes, diverting patients from the emergency department

Improved access to patient-centred care closer to home and community

• Almost 7,000 calls were received from people wishing to access palliative care in their homes
• Over 92 percent of surveyed patients and families were satisfied with the care they received by paramedics and 86.6 percent of calls improved the presenting complaint

Improved efficiency in the healthcare system

• An average of 31 minutes were saved per call by treating palliative patients at home compared with transporting them to the emergency department

Improved comfort and confidence for paramedic team members delivering palliative care

• 71.3 percent of paramedics felt more comfortable and confident providing palliative care
• More than 7,500 paramedics and 200 additional healthcare providers were trained to support palliative patients at home

Suggested citation

These outcomes are informed by data collected by HEC, the Partnership, and the seven teams in six provinces, representing 31 paramedic services, that participated in the program. When citing this information, we ask that you use the following reference:

• Healthcare Excellence Canada, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, and Paramedics and Palliative Care teams. How Paramedics and Palliative Care contributed to better healthcare in Canada. August 2023.

An economic evaluation of the Paramedics and Palliative Care program is underway and will be linked here when available.