Renfrew County’s new paramedic dispatch system launched May 9, bringing changes to the way paramedics respond to prioritized emergency calls.
The Renfrew Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC) has adopted the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS). The organization will work with the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service to improve and optimize the deployment of paramedic resources.
“This will help meet patient needs by matching resources with the clinical situation and prioritize the most urgent calls to 911 and ensure the right care at the right time for people living in the region,” reads a press release.
Officials say that with the MPDS, people in the region calling 911 can expect more detailed questions from Emergency Medical Dispatchers.
“These questions will assist emergency personnel gather specific information about a patient’s condition to make quick and effective dispatch decisions,” reads the release.
According to the county, the MPDS is a safe and proven emergency medical call taking system that is thoughtfully structured, and patient focused. The tool is designed to help dispatchers understand a patient’s level of urgency and triage them accordingly. This system allows the CACCs to match available paramedic resources with a patient’s condition – ensuring that the right paramedic resources are appropriately dispatched and patients with life-threatening conditions receive care immediately.
Low-urgency incidents will be dispatched as soon as paramedics are available, but these situations will be continually monitored by the CACC and callers will receive follow-up call backs to check patient status. If the patient’s status changes and requires immediate medical attention, residents are encouraged to call 911 again to provide an update on patient condition.
MPDS is based on a more comprehensive and patient-focused presentation to efficiently determine the best resources for each individual call. This will allow for a better allocation of resources and helps to distribute the workload among all crews.
The new system is already being used by CACCs in the Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara, Kenora, and Peel and Halton Regions. The expansion of the MPDS is part of the Ontario Government’s Your Health Plan, working collaboratively with the County of Renfrew to ensure the Paramedic Service provides the right care at the right time while easing pressure on emergency departments.
(Sherry Haaima)
