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Community Paramedic Chris Michel goes the extra mile to make a difference for patients

BC Emergency Health Services paramedic Chris Michel has been recognized with the PHSA+ Award in the category of Excellence in Patient/Client and Family-Centred Care for his exceptional service to patients as a community paramedic.
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Rather than focus on responding to emergencies, community paramedics work to prevent 911 calls from happening in the first place by providing home visits to patients with serious chronic health conditions and leading community outreach and education. There are currently community paramedic positions in 90 communities across B.C., primarily in rural and remote locations.

Chris began working as a community paramedic in Boston Bar in 2017. He soon became a mentor and leader in the program, helping new community paramedics develop a holistic approach to patient care that emphasizes empathy, communication and cultural sensitivity. In 2019, Chris moved with his family to the Lower Mainland where he took a full-time position as a primary care paramedic, while continuing to support the community paramedic program as a mentor.


In 2021, Chris was able to become an integral new part of an exciting new initiative, when BCEHS partnered with McMaster University and Options Community Services to open the CP@Clinic at the Ted Kuhn Towers in Surrey, which offer supportive housing for seniors. The CP@Clinic is the first community paramedic clinic in an urban area in BC and focuses on the prevention of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and falls. Community paramedics provide regular drop-in clinics in the Towers where they offer health assessments and help connect patients with health-care and community resources.

Chris' nomination for the PHSA+ Award notes that Chris has quickly earned the respect of the Ted Kuhn community: "Chris is revered for his attentive ear, compassion, and commitment to guiding individuals through their health journeys. His impact extends beyond mere advocacy, as he has played a crucial role in navigating care pathways and identifying innovative solutions to address the unique needs of clients."

Chris at the PHSA+ Awards ceremony Pictured from left to right: Amy Poll, director, Community and Indigenous Programs, BCEHS; Chris Michel and Carly Jokic, executive director, Employee Experience, BCEHS.

Chris has also become a leader and champion for the clinic. He continues to help train new community paramedics. He's also cultivated relationships with other health-care professionals and created a database to referral contacts to help his fellow community paramedics connect patients to resources.

For Chris, the most rewarding part of his work is the impact he's been able to make on the lives of individual patients.

"There's been a few times when we've seen really significant improvements, significant successes and significant benefits to a patient’s quality of life," he says. "I remember there was one client in particular, when we first met her, she couldn't mobilize outside of a scooter and now she can mobilize independently. That’s an amazing improvement."

About the PHSA+ Awards program

The PHSA+ Awards are part of an internal recognition program that celebrates teams and individuals who bring PHSA's purpose, vision, values and Coast Salish teachings to life in the workplace. They go above and beyond to serve patients and families across B.C.
 
 
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