For Wayne and Marilyn Simon, receiving care at home has made it easier to manage their health.
Living in a seniors’ building, they know how difficult it can be to leave home for appointments or access care quickly when concerns arise.
Through a partnership with Peel Regional Paramedic Services, Trillium Health Partners is delivering timely, personalized care directly in patients’ homes for frail seniors and people living with dementia or chronic conditions, helping avoid unnecessary emergency visits.
Community paramedics provide in-home assessments, monitor ongoing conditions, and support patients after a hospital stay. When additional expertise is needed, they can connect patients in real time to a Trillium Health Partners physician through a virtual appointment, so care decisions can be made during the visit without requiring a trip to the emergency department.
For patients like Wayne and Marilyn Simon, the program offers reassurance that concerns can be assessed quickly - without leaving home.
“They’re easy to talk to - and if there’s a concern, they take it seriously,” they said. “You know the care team is there when you need them.
The impact is significant. To date, 95% of patients have been treated at home without needing an emergency department visit, helping reduce pressure on hospitals while improving the patient experience. Since 2022, close to 400 virtual physician appointments have been delivered, connecting patients to care without leaving home.
Recognized with an Ontario Health System Quality and Innovation Award, the program reflects a more connected approach to care - bringing together paramedic services, virtual physician expertise, and hospital care to better support patients at home.
