A McMaster led program designed to keep low-income older adults healthy at home and reduce avoidable 911 calls was recognized with a health system innovation award.
Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@clinic) won the Ontario Health System Quality and Innovation Award (OHSQI) in the Population Health Impact Category for 2025. This award is presented by Ontario Health, the Ontario Medical Association, the Ontario Hospitals Association, and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.
The CP@clinic program brings preventive care directly into social housing communities, addressing health disparities through culturally responsive care and strong community partnerships with local paramedic services. By focusing on early intervention, the program helps older adults manage chronic conditions, avoid unnecessary 911 calls and maintain independence.
“This award is tremendous recognition for CP@clinic, our team, and the culmination of over a decade of research,” says Gina Agarwal, professor of family medicine and director of the Vulnerable individuals in Primary Care (VIP) Research Lab.
CP@clinic has been adopted by 78% of Ontario Paramedic Services, reaching over 16,000 low-income older adults and potentially impacting over 305,000 low-income social housing residents through ongoing provincial scale-up.
The results show that CP@clinic reduces 911 calls by 20-25 per cent, which alleviates the economic burdens placed on the health care system. Further, administrative data shows that buildings receiving CP@clinic had fewer transfers to long term care, more appropriate primary care visits, more anti-hypertensive medication initiation, more home-based care, and shorter hospital stays.
CP@clinic has shaped both provincial policy and national standards. Ontario’s Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care identified it as a preferred model for community paramedicine program. Similarly, the Canadian Standards Association based their recommendations for community paramedicine program development on CP@clinic.
With funding from Health Canada’s Health Care Policy Contribution Program and partnerships with the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs and Paramedic Chiefs of Canada, CP@clinic is positioned for long-term sustainability and continued expansion.