KAWARTHA LAKES-There’s a new and improved ambulance dispatch system coming to Kawartha Lakes on March 26, 2025. It’s called the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS).
What is MPDS?
- MPDS prioritizes life threatening calls over less urgent ones.
- Individuals who call 911 for non-life-threatening medical issues may experience longer wait times for service.
- An ambulance communications officer will remain in contact with the caller to provide support and monitor the patient’s condition.
- MPDS will help Paramedics respond to life threatening calls quicker.
Watch this video from area Paramedics Chiefs to learn more.
For more information check out the MPDS webpage.
Paramedic Chief Sara Johnston presented the Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service’s Operational Key Performance Indicators for 2024 to Council recently. She provided an overview of a suite of operational key performance indicators (O-KPIs) that the Paramedic Service uses to track operational efficiency and set benchmarks for ongoing evaluation. The O-KPIs will inform evidence-driven transformation within the service. Key findings from the O-KPIs include:
- Demand for service and resource level has stabilized to a consistent rate of increase. Calls where no ambulances are available to respond (also called Code Zeroes) have decreased. Increasing System Utilization Rates/system busyness has decreased to acceptable levels. The demand for service stats validate the recommendations and roadmap laid out in the Paramedic Service Master Plan.
- Our operating costs per unit have increased and is slightly above the 2021 Municipal Benchmarking Network comparator mean. Evidence-driven transformation will be key in meeting upcoming patient care challenges with finite local funds available.
- Lost staff time from physical and mental health injuries requires attention. Finding additional ways to support staff as they navigate mental health and work-related stress is important moving forward.
- Our fleet costs have decreased but maintenance costs still exceed our annual budget given the aging fleet and supply chain challenges. Safety measures also need to be considered to decrease vehicle incident frequency. More strategies are required to reduce carbon emissions.
- The department developed a Patient Experience Survey to qualify service delivery expectations and provide a meaningful measure of performance to the public.
For more information, read the Paramedic Service Operational Key Performance Indicators report to Council.
