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Print | YORK REGION>Services>Emergency Medical Services>EMS Operations |
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Emergency Medical Services
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York Region EMS has a mandate to provide 24-hour response to emergency and non-emergency requests for service, delivering out-of-hospital medical care and transport to those individuals suffering injury or illness in York Region. York Region EMS Operations consolidates the core business components of staffing, property, fleet and equipment to ensure adequate resources are available to service the community. |
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Staffing |
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Approximately 310 paramedics and support staff provide Emergency Medical Service to the Regional Municipality of York.
York Region EMS utilizes an Operations Management team of ten Operations Supervisors and two Senior Managers to provide leadership in clinical excellence.
York Region EMS currently deploys up to 24 ambulances and 6 Paramedic Response Vehicles from 18 Paramedic Response Stations strategically located throughout the Region of York.
All stations are equipped with patient care supplies to ensure readiness to respond and to provide a degree of self-sufficiency in the event of a supply interruption. York Region is currently reviewing deployment options to rationalize station locations and to plan for future growth.
York Region EMS will continue to evaluate and revise deployment options to ensure a performance-based EMS system.
York Region EMS operates a fleet consisting of 37 Ambulances, 12 Paramedic and Supervisor Response Vehicles, 3 Supply Vehicles 4 Administrative Vehicles, 2 Education and Training Vehicles, and 1 Emergency Support Vehicle. (This number includes spare vehicles to cover breakdowns and scheduled preventative maintenance)
The Emergency Support Unit (ESU) and accompanying trailer is a specially equipped vehicle that is mobilized in the event of a major incident. The vehicle and trailer contain a variety of patient care equipment and supplies to effectively respond to a large scale or multi-casualty incident. The ESU is also equipped with a generator and lights to illuminate night-time emergency scenes.
York EMS utilizes a Preventative Maintenance Program to ensure that the fleet is mechanically safe and ready to respond. This also assists in the prevention of costly unscheduled repairs, reduces vehicle downtime and maintains fuel economy.
York Region EMS utilizes an automated system for the distribution, management, and control of medications and supplies to meet the day to day needs of its Paramedics.
Pyxis Stations ™, located in 3 geographical central EMS Response Stations, provide easy, secure access to supplies and equipment on a 24 hour basis. This system tracks inventory usage by vehicle and station. Support staff restock the Pyxis Station™ from refill reports produced based on supplies used, to ensure ample supplies are readily available.
To supplement this system, all 18 York Region EMS Response Stations are inventoried twice weekly. Necessary supplies and equipment are delivered from a central stores facility. General delivery and maintenance staff utilize supply vehicles for the delivery of equipment, patient care supplies and linen, as well as retrieval of equipment from hospitals. In addition, they carry tools and supplies to complete minor repairs to vehicles and stations. Other responsibilities include oxygen and suction equipment testing, and preventative maintenance of stretchers and patient transport equipment. All supplies and equipment, from station cleaning supplies to defibrillator accessories, are processed through this support function.
Special Programs
Emergency Medical Services Branch will continue to meet the needs of the residents and visitors in the Regional Municipality of York by developing and implementing programs designed to improve response to medical emergencies, now and in the future.
With that goal in mind York Region EMS has developed programs to provide diversified customer service response options for day to day operations and special events.
Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs)
The Advanced Care Paramedic 'Emergency Response Vehicle' (ERV) Program was introduced to York Region in the fall of 2002. This initiative was established to augment the regional deployment of Advanced Care Paramedics (ACPs), and to reduce response time.
York Region EMS currently deploys 6 ERVs during peak demand periods.
The ERVs are Sport Utility Vehicles staffed by Advanced Care Paramedics (ACPs). They are "self-dispatched" to emergency requests for service, and are available for operational utilization based on need.
The ERV program enhances the efficiency of out of hospital care and provides York Region EMS with contingency response options to maximize customer service delivery.
Mountain Bike Unit
Launched early in the summer of 2002, the EMS Mountain Bike Unit is primarily designed for use during special events throughout the Region. Working in teams, consisting of one Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) and one Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP), the unit can provide rapid response through congested or remote areas to assess and treat any medical emergency sooner than a traditional EMS vehicle. The Mountain Bike Unit routinely attracts significant attention from the public and media. These highly visible paramedics are seen as positive role models and help promote safe bicycle riding and injury prevention. Fourteen paramedics currently maintain the Mountain Bike Unit's five fully equipped bikes. All fourteen were given specialized training and had to meet additional fitness requirements.
Marine Unit
The York Region EMS Marine Unit was officially launched for the 2002 summer season. From the Victoria Day long weekend in May, until Thanksgiving in October (as operational requirements allow), one of four specially trained Primary Care Paramedics (PCP) patrol the shores of Lake Simcoe as a member of the York Regional Police Marine Unit. They respond to medical emergencies on the water, shoreline and islands of
Heart Alive
Heart Alive is a Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program led by York Region Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The goal of Heart Alive is to prevent sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) through promotion of heart health and to increase survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest if it does occur.
Defibrillation is a process in which an electronic device gives an electric shock to the heart. This helps re-establish normal contraction rhythms in a person experiencing a SCA or dangerous, irregular heart beats.
The Regional Municipality of York Heart Alive Program is responsible for the installation of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in Regional facilities, and for the training of staff by York Region Paramedics. These staff become Heart Alive Targeted Responders through the completion of training in Standard First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the operation of an AED.
For more information about this or any EMS program, Please contact Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 or EMS.HeartAlive@york.ca
