Grey County has enhanced paramedic services with more shifts and a new overdose response drug.
Director of Paramedic Services Kevin McNab said Operational Research in Health (ORH) completed a ten-year comprehensive deployment review to help project call volumes.
"In that review, it was identified that there's 5.8 per cent, on average, increase every year over the next ten years, predicted totaling 68 per cent over the next ten years," McNab revealed.
In all, Grey County Paramedics responded to over 15,000 911 calls in 2023. McNab says the increase is a combination of a growing and aging population, more complex problems, and increased treatments administered in the home.
"So with the recommendation from ORH and working with team here, we determined a phased in approach of adding resources to match the increased call demand," he explained. "We added two twelve hour, seven day a week ambulances, one in the Hanover base and one in the Owen Sound base."
McNab said the extra resources are helping Grey County continue responding quickly to emergency calls and meet response time targets as paramedic services call volumes grow. He said over the next ten years, they will add six more twelve-hour shifts as well as a weekend shift in Grey Bruce.
"Our goal is to reduce response times and to retain response times and, as far as workload goes, distribute the workload of the service," he added. "And the goal is to improve response times as a county to the whole but also to look at rural areas as well, that we could use some improvements on those areas."
In another innovation, Grey County paramedics have begun carrying a drug to respond to opioid overdoses, which decreases withdrawal symptoms, and could help people recover.
"What the paramedic is able to do in the community is post opioid overdose, where they've been treated with Naloxone, we're able to administer Suboxone or Buprenorphine-naloxone," McNab pointed out. "The idea of this is it will reduce the cravings and prevent them from having severe withdrawal symptoms, or hopefully reduce those severe withdrawal symptoms, to stabilize them so they can make better informed decisions about their health."
As well, a new agreement with Brightshores Health System allows Grey County paramedics to transport patients directly to the new Wellness and Recovery Centre in Owen Sound where they can access 24-7 addiction services and the most appropriate care.
“The seamless transition from emergency response to specialized addiction care is a significant step in combating the opioid crisis in our region,” said McNab. “Having a near death experience like an opioid overdose can provide the clarity needed to choose recovery.”
“When you’re experiencing a medical emergency and need to call 9-1-1 you want paramedics to arrive quickly,” said Grey County Warden Brian Milne. “Grey County is investing in our paramedic services and working closely with our system partners so residents can have confidence paramedics will be there in their moments of greatest need.”