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Paramedics and Social Prescribing

The Paramedics and Social Prescribing program helps paramedic teams implement social prescribing to connect people with non-medical social and community supports that improve health and well-being.

Illustration of an individual holding a phone while on a call with a healthcare provider, and another healthcare provider standing nearby.
Topics
  • Health workforce
  • Aging in place
  • Health Equity
Audience

  • Community organization

  • Healthcare leader

  • Person with lived/living experience

How we’re supporting teams:

Teams include paramedic services and teams across Canada, supported by:

  • Seed funding up to $30,000.

  • Small group coaching on implementing and sustaining a social prescribing pathway, led by experts in social prescribing, community paramedicine and change management.

  • Proven tools and evidence-informed resources that help implement and measure what works.

  • Virtual and in-person* learning and networking to share knowledge, learn from peers and achieve more together.

Teams will be supported to pursue their goals while building essential skills in equity, cultural safety, patient engagement and safety. They’ll also explore key topics like quality improvement and working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

Map of Canada with purple bubbles indicating the number of participating teams by province/territory. The largest bubbles are in Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Full counts in the long description.

Meet the teams

This program supports over 30 teams to systematize social prescribing within their service. Participants from across the country can collaborate, share knowledge and explore approaches for integrating social prescribing into their service.

The 36 teams reflect the diversity of paramedic services in Canada. They include provincial, regional, and municipal services, as well as community paramedicine, emergency response, and primary care programs and services.

"This program is a great opportunity for paramedicine in Canada to formalize and further solidify its role in addressing unmet social needs - paramedics already do this in their everyday practice, and this program will help us to share best practices and improve service delivery."

Alan Batt PhDAssociate Professor of Paramedicine

What is social prescribing?

Social prescribing connects people with community support and services to address non-medical needs that impact their health and well-being. It brings healthcare workers and community members together with the individual to co-create a personalized plan or "social prescription" for better health. This could include connections to a food bank, senior centre, class, recreational activity, legal support, and more.

Paramedics are in a unique position to support social prescribing. They meet people where they are—at home and in the community—and can leverage these touchpoints to make connections with essential resources.

In some paramedic services, over 50 percent of 911 calls are for non-emergencies. Social prescribing, led by paramedics, can help. It has been shown to improve mental health (PDF), reduce repeat emergency department visits (PDF) and deliver a strong return on investment.

Illustration of a healthcare provider showing a tablet to a seated individual with three surrounding bubbles containing images of playing cards, food and reading material signifying connection to resources and support.

Explore other programs

This offering is part of Care Forward, a pan-Canadian movement that provides funding and learning supports to drive impact on four key priorities: expanding care access, supporting aging in place, advancing person-centred long-term care and strengthening the health workforce.

    This offering is endorsed by the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada and the International Roundtable on Community Paramedicine (IRCP).

    • Paramedic Chiefs of Canada
    • International Roundtable on Community Paramedicine

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