The Ontario government is changing the way medical 9-1-1 calls are assigned in Northumberland.
Starting March 26, Northumberland Paramedics will be dispatched using the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MDPS) – a proven, internationally used triage model backed by decades of research and medical evidence.
Similar to triage systems used in hospital emergency rooms, MPDS will help to ensure the right paramedic resources get to the right person at the right time, in the event of a medical emergency.
Northumberland Paramedics’ transition to this system is part of a province-wide roll-out that will be fully implemented across all paramedic services by the end of 2026.
“This important change will give paramedics the best chance to save a life in the case of a critical emergency,” states Northumberland Paramedic Chief Susan Brown. “With our current system, paramedics are dispatched on a first call, first served basis. For example, a child suffering a nosebleed would be prioritized with the same level of response as a senior suffering from cardiac arrest, due to categorization as an ‘uncontrolled bleed’. This limits resources available for critical calls, which can be detrimental in a medical emergency.”
“MPDS will improve resource management, ensuring paramedics are available for critical calls, with the flexibility to redirect resources as needed to best serve the community. Over the past ten years, we’ve seen the positive results of MPDS as it has been rolled out in other regions. We look forward to seeing the benefits of this proven model here in Northumberland when the system is implemented by the Lindsay Central Ambulance Call Centre on March 26th.”
MPDS is a software system that helps dispatchers better assess the level of urgency of a 9-1-1 call and direct paramedics to the sickest, most at-risk patients first. In so doing, the system is proven to improve patient outcomes and maximize paramedic resource management.
Once this system is implemented in Northumberland on March 26th, dispatchers will be asking 9-1-1 callers a few additional questions to help determine the severity of their situation. This information only takes a few moments to collect but can have a significant impact when allocating critical resources.
· If community members call about a life-threatening medical emergency, like a heart attack, stroke or traumatic injury, they will continue to receive help within minutes.
· If the call is about a less urgent matter, like a flu or a sprained ankle, residents will still get help but may experience extended wait times – up to four hours – while paramedics attend more urgent calls. In such cases, the dispatcher will check in with the caller every 30 minutes to assess symptoms and reprioritize as needed.
Community members are encouraged to call 9-1-1 immediately if experiencing an emergency that threatens life, safety or property. For non-urgent matters, please consider alternative health care options such as:
· Your family doctor
· A walk-in clinic
· Pharmacies
· 211 – an online resource and hotline that can help connect you with local health care services in your area, including walk-in clinics, community health centres, medical professionals, home support programs, transportation to medical appointments, and more.
· Health 811 – a hotline and online chat service that can connect you with a registered nurse for a free consultation, day or night. 811 offers secure and confidential health advice from the comfort of your home.
By choosing an alternative to 9-1-1 for non-urgent matters, residents can help reduce the demand on local emergency services and ensure the necessary resources are available to respond when someone is critically ill or injured.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
