Ottawa’s ByWard Market Pilot Project: Advanced Care Paramedics Step In to Help Vulnerable Residents
Austin Gionet cruises through Ottawa’s ByWard Market when a woman named Thumper waves him down. Living nearby in a staircase, she shows him her swollen hand, jokingly explaining, “I punched the security guard.” Though she laughs, her injury needs attention. Gionet wraps her hand and gently suggests visiting a clinic, hoping that over time she might trust him enough to take his advice.
“I don’t like going to the hospital,” Thumper confides. “Once you’re labeled a mental patient, they treat you differently, and I hate that.” It’s moments like these that drew Gionet, 25, to his job as one of 13 advanced care paramedics participating in a new pilot project in Ottawa’s ByWard Market.
Gionet’s team recently offered CBC an exclusive ride-along, showcasing their unique approach to serving Ottawa’s most vulnerable. Working “off-roster,” this specialized team decides which calls to attend, rather than being dispatched by a central service.
The goal is clear: respond rapidly, assess the situation, and release unnecessary resources—such as ambulances—back into service as quickly as possible. This is in response to a surge in demand for paramedic services in the ByWard Market, where calls about overdoses and other emergencies have skyrocketed.
Logan Martin, acting commander of operations with the Ottawa Paramedic Service, explained that before the project, they would often deploy a full fleet of emergency responders for overdose calls. However, by the time crews arrived, the patient might have already left the scene, tying up valuable resources.
“This project allows us to focus resources where they’re most needed, making the entire system more efficient,” Martin said.
With advanced care paramedics like Gionet working closely with the community, Ottawa is finding new ways to tackle the complex health challenges faced by its most vulnerable residents.
Source : Swifteradio.com
