Emergency Health Services

Paramedics Providing Palliative Care at Home

Patients receiving palliative care in Nova Scotia can get support from paramedics for pain and symptom management at home.

All ground ambulance paramedics in Nova Scotia have received training to increase their skills and resources to manage palliative care symptoms like pain, breathlessness, fear and anxiety. Before this program, 911 calls for patients receiving palliative care required paramedics to transport them to hospital.

Program partners include the Department of Health and Wellness, Nova Scotia Health, Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care Program Nova Scotia and Emergency Health Services, Dalhousie University's department of emergency medicine.

This video provides more information about the program: Paramedics Providing Palliative Care at Home (YouTube).

Registering with the Special Patient Program will help paramedics provide care that’s consistent with the patient’s wishes.

How to register

Patients, families and their decision makers should talk to their healthcare provider about enrolling in the program.

A healthcare clinician needs to complete the form and submit it electronically following the instructions on the form. We can’t accept applications by email or fax.

Special Patient Program Enrollment Form (PDF)

You can use the same form to update a patient’s information by checking the “Update/revision” box

This video explains how healthcare providers can enroll a patient in the program: Enrolling in the EHS Special Patient Program (YouTube).

Contact us

For more information about paramedics providing palliative care support in Nova Scotia, contact Michelle Harrison, program project manager:
Phone: 902-717-2641
Email: michelle.harrison@nshealth.ca

For more information about the Special Patient Program, contact the program administrator.
Email: specialpatients.EHS@emci.ca
Phone: 902-407-3271

Related information

Special Patient Program brochure for healthcare professionals (PDF 153 kB)
Special Patient Program brochure for patients and families (PDF 152 kB)
Special Patient Program brochure for patients receiving palliative care (PDF)
Special Patient Program Enrollment Form (PDF 465 kB)