Reducing 9-1-1 Emergency Medical Service Calls by Implementing a Community Paramedicine Program for Vulnerable Older Adults in Public Housing in Canada: A Multi-Site Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Individuals living in poverty often visit their primary care physician for health problems resulting from unmet legal needs. Providing legal services for those in need may therefore improve health outcomes. Poverty is a social determinant of health. Impoverished areas tend to have poor health outcomes, with higher rates of mental illness, chronic disease, and comorbidity. This study reports on a medical-legal collaboration delivered in a healthcare setting between health professionals and lawyers as a novel way to approach the inaccessibility of legal services for those in need.