The Essex-Windsor EMS chief says a glut of low acuity, low priority calls are stressing the system, affecting response times and adding to off-load times at area hospitals.
Bruce Krauter says a quarter of all calls come from the same group of vulnerable patients who may be better served by another agency. He says the group includes patients who call EMS at least three times a year.
"We're not saying that these people shouldn't be calling EMS," says Krauter, citing calls to lift patients out of bed or deal with concerns about medication. "Is the EMS the proper resource to be using?"
Krauter says there has been some discussion with Windsor Regional Hospital, Leamington District Memorial Hospital and the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network about creating a communications or navigations hub to direct those patients to more appropriate services.
"(If) they're not connected to something; their last resort is calling EMS," he says.
