If you are calling 9-1-1 for non-life threatening reasons, you should expect extended wait times for service depending on patient condition and the nature of the emergency.
Ambulance communications officers will stay in contact to make sure callers are supported and to monitor each patient’s condition
According to the county, the system is a way of making sure that paramedics attend the most urgent calls as soon as possible.
Hastings County notes that the system is the professional standard for patient triage for more than 35,000 ambulance communications centres in more than 46 countries, and will be used by all emergency medical services in Ontario.
It is currently in place in Toronto, Niagara, Thunder Bay, Ottawa and other locations.
Emergency medical response system partners at Lanark County, Frontenac County, Lennox & Addington County, and Leeds & Grenville Paramedic Services will switch to MPDS on Feb. 5, too.
Renfrew County switched to the system last May.
