Program to keep Alberta seniors out of ERs successful

A community health-care program designed to steer seniors away from emergency rooms is working so well Alberta Health Services (AHS) hopes to expand it in 2014.

AHS says the Community Paramedic Program saved upwards of 700 visits to city ERs in its first year by sending paramedics out to make house calls.

Glad Bury has a long list of ailments but she's getting healthier with frequent visits from the community paramedics.

It's something she didn't expect especially after being hospitalized with pneumonia.

"It was uncomfortable and it was a little difficult because there was no diagnosis and they just let me lie there," she said.

When she was discharged, Bury decided she was never going back and that's when Ty Eggenberger entered her life. The community paramedic has been treating her in her own home.

"We're not an alternative to the emergency department, we are a method of keeping people from needing the emergency department," said Eggenberger.

He says the program allows for more one-on-one time.

"This is something that really encouraged me,and I thought 'I'm going to get better,'" said Bury.