Service Navigator Update Issue Report

Report To:                             Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board

From:                                        Robert Smith, Chief of Paramedic Services

Date:                                         June 18, 2026

Re:                                              Service Navigator Update Issue Report

Strategic Plan Goal:       1. Expand Service Delivery
Objective:                              2.2 Modernize our tools, systems, processes and spaces to increase efficiency and enhance the experience of individuals
Strategic Plan Goal:        2. Transform How We Work                                                                                                                                                     
Objective:                             1.1. Explore innovative approaches to support more integrated, efficient, person-centered services

Executive Summary

Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB has been legislatively responsible for the provision of paramedic Services since 2001, following the province’s download of this program. Paramedic Services has continued to evolve its program delivery since that time and in early 2021 the Community Paramedicine Program expanded significantly with multiple funding partners. In 2024, funding allowed for the addition of service navigation to assist patients during hospital discharges, with care coordination into the CP Program and assist with initiation of new overarching services. The program also provided service navigation referrals and support related to housing, food insecurity, and access to community services.

The Servicer Navigators working out of Espanola, covering the LaCloche area and from Mindemoya covering Manitoulin Island have rapidly evolved the program and help ensure growing demand both internally and externally. The interdisciplinary collaboration has provided direct client support through system integration.

Assessment Period

While the Service Navigator deployed to LaCloche began operating in the second quarter of 2024, the program was not established for Manitoulin Island until late 2025. This later program rollout on Manitoulin Island allowed for service replication and adoption of specific strategies that had proven successful in the previous period. For this Issue Report, the 2025/2026 fiscal year is being presented with specific findings of both operating location between January 1, 2026, to March 31, 2026 (Q4 FY25/26).

Findings

During 2025/2026 fiscal year, the Community Paramedicine Navigator operating in LaCloche Espanola supported:

• 399 Care Coordination clients through 667 interactions
• 156 Service Navigation clients through 545 interactions
• 32 Shared Care Coordination/Navigation clients through 154 interactions (Q1–Q2 reported)

As the Mindemoya Service Navigator was not operational until late in 2025, there is no Q1 to Q2 data available. Q3 and Q4 data is incorporated into the report.

LaCloche Service Navigation Results

• Navigation clients increased from 6 in Q1 to 86 in Q4, representing a 1,333% increase.
• Navigation interactions increased from 32 in Q1 to 204 in Q4, representing a 538% increase.

LaCloche Care Coordination Results

• Client volume increased from 47 clients in Q1 to 148 clients in Q3, representing a 215% increase.
• Interactions increased from 70 in Q1 to 271 in Q2, remaining high throughout Q3 before declining in Q4.

Espanola Care Coordination services experienced significant growth during the first three quarters of the year, reflecting increased referrals, complex care planning requirements, and stronger integration with healthcare partners. Activity levels remained substantial throughout the year despite a reduction in Q4 volumes which can be attributed to more complex client needs with navigation.

Manitoulin Care Coordination Results

• Client volume increased from 40 clients in Q3 to 56 clients in Q4, representing a 40% increase.
• Interactions increased from 64 in Q3 to 86 in Q4 representing a 34.4% increase.

Care Coordination results for the Service Navigator on Manitoulin Island were lower than those out of Espanola but given that these quarterly results were for the first and second quarts of the program, the increases were intriguing and in line with those experienced in the initial months of the LaCloche Service navigator.

Interpretation

Service Navigation demonstrated significant growth throughout 2025/2026 fiscal year. The substantial increase in client volume and interactions in the latter part of the fiscal year reflects the transfer of care coordination responsibilities to the Service Navigator on Manitoulin Island. This transition contributed to increased referrals and service demand, while also highlighting growing awareness of the Navigator role among healthcare providers, community agencies, and clients. The data further reflects an increasing need for support related to housing, food security, mental health, addictions, income support, transportation, and access to community resources.

Manitoulin Island Service Navigation Results

• Navigation clients quadrupled (400%) from 3 in Q3 to 12 in Q4.
• Navigation interactions increased (700%) from 7 in Q3 to 49 in Q4.

Interpretation

While client volumes increased impressively, given the rapid deployment of this pilot program, the rate of interactions grew more significantly. This factor indicated increasing case complexity and greater necessity of required commitment of time to coordinate holistic care/services.

Conclusion

Community Paramedicine Navigation continues to evolve as a key system connector, supporting both clinical care transitions and social determinants of health across LaCloche and Manitoulin Island. The CP Program generally, and the Service Navigators are demonstrating significant benefits to the holistic delivery of health extra-institutional/community healthcare