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County of Simcoe to launch new medical dispatch triage system
October 3, 2024 · 0 Comments
By Brian Lockhart
The County of Simcoe is improving emergency medical response to communities across the region.
With support from the Ontario government, the County of Simcoe Paramedic Services will join services throughout the province in implementing the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS).
MPDS is an internationally recognized medical call triage and decision support tool that improves the dispatching of paramedics to patients in life-threatening situations such as cardiac arrest, unconsciousness or choking.
When dialling 9-1-1 to request emergency medical assistance, callers should expect to be asked more detailed questions than in the past. These questions will help dispatchers gather vital information regarding a patient’s condition so that they can assess the situation, determine the nature and urgency of the emergency, and assign the priority level and type of response required.
Patients with non-life-threatening needs may receive a delayed response from paramedics as a result. However, dispatchers will remain in contact with callers, ensuring they remain stable and can safely wait until paramedics can respond.
The new system will become active in November of this year.
Full details on the MPDS system and what it means for callers at 9-1-1 can be found at simcoe.ca/mpds.
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