Grant: Operating Grant

We were previously funded by the CIHR to develop a short checklist that paramedics could use, based on observations they made in the homes of their older clients, to identify those older people who are at the highest risk for getting worse (i.e. needing to go to an ED again, needing hospitalization or dying) within 1 month of having called 911. We trained 1000 paramedics in 2 cities (Toronto & Ottawa) who enrolled 912 older patients. We were able to see if they deteriorated within 1 month of their initial 911 call by using databases that track health care use and outcomes in the province of Ontario. Based on this research we successful develop a three-item checklist that identifies older people at high risk for deterioration after calling 911. Because use of this check-list may impact decisions about individual patients treatment, it is important to confirm or validate the accuracy of the checklist before it is used as a part of routine clinical care. We are seeking funds to complete this validation needed to allow Paramedics to use the PERIL tool in clinical practice.