8 March 2023IN MY OPINIONCommunity Paramedicine and its Benefits for Provincial Health SystemsBy Sherri Julé, Director EMS ­ North, Community Paramedicine Programs, Saskatchewan Health AuthorityThe formal definition of Community Paramedicine (CP) is just as it sounds. Community-based care where paramedics apply their training and skills to those in need. What's unique about this type of professional is that Paramedics are providing health care in a "non-traditional" community-based environment, often outside the usual emergency response and transportation models. The Paramedics apply a combination of core training, specialized skills and protocols.Sherri Julé is the Director of Emergency Medical Services, North and for the SHA's Community Paramedicine Program. She has been leading this work since 2011 within the Saskatchewan Health Authority "Community Paramedicine has been around for quite some time and continues to be very innovative," said Julé. "It allows Paramedics to work in the community and apply specialized skills to a very unique subset of the population in their home or close to their home. This type of care not only makes it easier on the patients, but on the system itself by supporting timely access to medical care for patients, where otherwise it may take hours or even days depending on where you live in Saskatchewan. This approach supports patients in their homes by enabling local teams to deliver care."It's important to note that CP is a resource that can be available as part of a larger, more comprehensive team. The care team may consist of Physicians, Nurse Practitioners (NP), Home Care staff, Registered Nurses (RN), Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPN), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), Primary Care Paramedics (PCP), Sherri Julé
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