An ounce of prevention makes sense

RE: PARAMEDIC DROP-INS KEEP SENIORS HEALTHY (MAY 28)

The study by McMaster University which looked at the effectiveness of weekly drop-in health assessment clinics by the Hamilton Paramedic Services is a good example of prevention in the community. Investment in disease prevention and health promotion saves millions of dollars, yet prevention is difficult to prove.

As a new Public Health Nurse in Hamilton during the 1980s, I was a generalist and we provided such clinics in seniors apartments and made home visits to the elderly following hospitalizations for the purpose of health teaching and to reduce the risk of readmission. These visits were important and as nurses we were well qualified to offer health assessments and teaching. The relationships that developed with the seniors built trust in the health care provider and I am certain that many ER visits were prevented.

Over the years priorities changed as public health departments have many other priorities.

Dr. Agarwal’s study is an important reminder of the value of having health-care providers, whether they are nurses or paramedics, working in the community with high-risk populations in their own familiar territory. We all know that health-care costs are rising to an unsustainable level. We need more studies such as this to convince decision-makers that ‘prevention’ is money well spent. Janet Fraser, Cayuga