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Community paramedic program filling health care gap at Cowichan Lake

Mike Wright says he is serving people one-on-one as well as in groups
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Community paramedic Mike Wright explains that small changes in lifestyle can keep people healthy and living in their homes longer. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)

Mike Wright told town council this month that there is a strong need for a community paramedic in Lake Cowichan.

Reporting in after operating the service for a few weeks, Wright was enthusiastic that this new way to enhance health care in communities like those around Cowichan Lake was definitely filling a gap.

“There is a need in the community, much more than I’m presently giving. Once the word got out to community health services and local physicians, it just took off exponentially. I’ve got 11 patients and there are more out there,” Wright said.

“But, the need is being met. As far as public education, it’s a fine balance between dealing with people one-on-one in their homes and dealing with them globally in their communities. It seems to me I’m spread pretty thin on some days.”

At the moment, his educational time is spent at the drug store or at Country Grocer, with the big grocery store being one of his favourite “trap lines”.

World Start-a-Heart Day is Oct. 18 and he’s working to get some real exposure on that.

“I’m leaning towards holding it at Country Grocer outside — set up some mannequins and that,” he said.

Wright plans to set up there and offer some hands-on CPR.

Not everyone may learn enough to be up to the gold standard but “anything happening is better than nothing happening and we know that in pre-hospital care the chances of survival with immediate chest compression goes up significantly. There is proof of that. Unfortunately I won’t be able to do it on World Start-a-Heart Day but I will do it within the week,” he said.

As far as his work in the communities, it’s all about helping people live healthily near their friends and families longer, Wright said.

“One of the biggest projects we’ve got going is a weekly exercise program called Let’s Get Moving. It’s mainly for people who are dealing with respiratory or cardio issues that are unable to do the traditional walking or other light exercise. They get a referral from the doctor, come down to the centre and get one-on-one care from the physiotherapist, occupational therapist, and myself. The idea is to assess what level they are at.

“Again, by keeping people more active and engaging them in their own health care there’s proof we can keep them in their home longer.”