THUNDER BAY – As part of the provincial certification process for Ontario’s EMS systems, a 20 person inspection / review team has completed a thorough survey of all aspects of the operations and administration of Superior North EMS, and a Provincial Certificate to operate a Land Ambulance Service has been issued.
The review team, consisting of specially trained paramedics and management personnel from EMS systems across Ontario and inspectors from the Ministry of Health examined the operational aspects of Superior North EMS. Paramedics from the team also rode-along with Superior North EMS paramedics to observe while patient care calls were completed. The concept is very similar to hospital accreditation processes but with more direct observation of patient care.
“The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has issued a Certificate to Operate a Land Ambulance Service to the City of Thunder Bay”, said Norm Gale, Chief of EMS. “This authorizes the City of Thunder Bay to operate the emergency medical service for the next three years.”
As part of their assessment, the inspectors found that 100% of the actual patient care provided to people that they observed was to standard, with only 3.1% of emergency calls having patient care issues, a level significantly lower than Provincial averages (9.64%, 2010).
“The Ministry inspection team was very impressed with the patient care provided by our paramedics, who were found to be compassionate and professional”, said Tim Commisso, City Manager. “I am very pleased with the results of the review, and I congratulate and thank our staff for their efforts not only during the review process, but at all times, as they provide excellent emergency medical service to the citizens in the City and District of Thunder Bay”, added Commisso.
This Ambulance Service Review program is conducted every three years for each EMS system in the Province. Depending on the findings, a certificate to operate is issued for one, two, or three years. The certification period is dependent on the service’s overall performance. The team that visited Superior North EMS consisted of 20 people, the largest such review team outside of the City of Toronto.65
