Building Interprofessional Prehospital Care in BC - An Example of the Possible Impact
- Aug 2
- 1 min read
A new study from Norway has highlighted the power of interprofessional teams in emergency response. The pilot introduced a GP–nurse emergency primary care response unit (EPCRU) that worked alongside existing EMS teams of fire first responders and paramedics. This model added value to an already advanced system where paramedics can discharge patients at home or redirect them to a local GP or urgent care centre.
The impact was significant: 44% of patients were treated on-site without hospital conveyance, easing emergency department (ED) demand. Importantly, the study found a notable rate of both over- and under-triage when comparing telephone nurse assessments to on-scene EPCRU evaluations—underscoring that while telemedicine is vital, it cannot fully replace in-person assessment.
The Norwegian municipalities studied mirror the population density and geography of communities like Nanaimo/Lantzville, the Comox Valley, and the Cowichan Valley core—regions currently grappling with ED pressures in BC.
This paper provides an excellent example of MRBC’s "Immediate Care", Rural Emergency Health Network concept and highlights future opportunities for interprofessional prehospital practice to strengthen urgent and emergency care delivery in British Columbia. As EDs across the province face unprecedented strain, models like EPCRU offer a path to safer, more efficient, and community-focused emergency care.
Source: Rønning et al., BJGP Open (2025)
