Medical Priority Dispatch System Coming November 2024

The Ministry of Health will change the way 911 calls are assigned within York Region beginning November 2024. The Georgian Central Ambulance Communications Centre will adopt the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) to enhance how paramedics are being deployed. 

MPDS is a proven technology used worldwide for patient triaging where it deploys paramedic resources effectively by matching them with the patient’s needs and prioritizing the most urgent calls. 

The expansion of MPDS is part of the Ontario government’s Your Health plan, aiming to provide the right care at the right time while easing pressure on emergency departments. Low-urgency calls will be dispatched as soon as an appropriate ambulance is available and will receive follow-up calls to check in on the patient’s status. If status changes and they require immediate medical attention, the call will be re-prioritized, and paramedics will be sent without delay.

What residents can expect:

• When calling 911, expect more specific questions to gather crucial information about the patient’s condition.
• Dispatchers will gather this information to help make quick and effective decisions, ensuring the right care is delivered at the right time.
• With MPDS, ‘lights and sirens’ will be used for the most urgent needs such as heart attacks, strokes or serious injuries.

MPDS relies on decades of research and medical evidence. It is currently used by Central Ambulance Communications Centres in Toronto, the Regional Municipality of Peel, the Regional Municipality of Niagara, Kenora, Thunder Bay, Halton, Ottawa and 52 countries around the world.

With the launch of the Medical Priority Dispatch System, paramedics can continue to deliver the highest quality of care to York Region residents. For more information about Paramedic Services, visit York.ca/ParamedicServices