Toronto EMS

Toronto Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provides ambulatory and paramedic care for the city of Toronto. Before 1998 it was known as Metro Toronto Ambulance and shortly after as Toronto Ambulance.

History
Metro Toronto Ambulance was formed in 1975 to replace private operators of ambulance services (mainly funeral homes, as well as hospitals) in Metro Toronto. Together with Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Metro Toronto Ambulance provided ambulance services from 1975 to 1998. With the amalgamation of Metro Toronto in 1998, Metro Ambulance became Toronto Ambulance, and later adopted its current name.

As of April 2005, the departments and commissioners were replaced by divisions under the city manager (and deputy managers).

Toronto EMS is now under Emergency Medical Services Division.

Operations
Toronto EMS operates in geographical locations in conjunction with area hospitals.Emergency service headquarters (for both fire and ambulance) is located at 4330 Dufferin Street.

A total of 41 stations serves a city of with a population of 3.5 million in an area of 650 square kilometres (251 square miles).

A list of EMS stations in Toronto: Northwest
 * 01 – 63 Toryork Road
 * 02 – 170 Plewes Road
 * 03 – 895 Eastern Ave (Serves as the training facility for TEMS)
 * 04 – 153 Chatham Ave
 * 10 – 2015 Lawrence Avenue West – attached to TFS Station 442 (formerly City of York FD # 4)
 * 11 – 1135 Caledonia Road
 * 12 – 1535 Albion Road – near TFS Station 413
 * 13 – 555 Martin Grove Road
 * 14 – 321 Rexdale Boulevard
 * 15 – 2753 Jane Street – attached to TFS Station 142 (formerly North York FD # 14)
 * 16 – 4330 Dufferin St – EMS HQ
 * 17 – 4135 Bathurst St – at Bathurst Street and York Downs Boulevard
 * 18 – 643 Eglinton Avenue West
 * 19 – 2660 Eglinton Avenue West
 * Marine Unit – 259 Queens Quay Way

Northeast
 * 20 – 3300 Bayview Avenue – attached to TFS Station 111 (formerly North York FD # 13)
 * 21 – 2075 Bayview Avenue
 * 22 – 12 Canterbury Place – attached to TFS Station 114 (formerly North York FD # 15)
 * 23 – 115 Parkway Forest Drive
 * 24 – 3061 Birchmount Road
 * 25 – 8500 Sheppard Ave E. (attached to TFS)
 * 26 – 4331 Lawrence Avenue East – attached to Toronto Police 43 Division
 * 27 – 900 Tapscott Road – attached to TFS Station 211 (formerly Scarborough FD # 15)
 * 28 – 2900 Lawrence Avenue East – near Scarborough General Hospital
 * 29 – 4800 Sheppard Avenue East (Behind TFS Station #243, in the trailer)

Southwest
 * 31 – 4219 Dundas Street West
 * 32 – 9 Clendennan Avenue
 * 33 – 760 Dovercourt Road
 * 34 – 674 Markham Street
 * 35 – 265 Manitoba Drive – attached to TFS Station 346 at the Exhibition Place
 * 36 – 339 Queens Quay West
 * 37 – 1288 Queen Street West
 * 38 – 259 Horner Avenue
 * 39 – 155 The East Mall

Southeast
 * 40 – 58 Richmond Street West
 * 41 – 1300 Pape Avenue
 * 42 – 1535 Kingston Road
 * 43 – 126 Pape Avenue
 * 44 – 887 Pharmacy Avenue
 * 45 – 135 Davenport Avenue
 * 46 – 105 Cedarvale Avenue
 * 47 – 3600 St Clair Avenue East
 * 48 – 235 Cibola Avenue
 * 49 – 3100 Eglinton Avenue East

Fleet
Of the 242 vehicles are in the EMS fleet, 150 are ambulances. The rest are support vehicles (mainly buses and trucks). A list of vehicles used by EMS:

Command



 * John Dean, serving as Commissioner, leading Metro Toronto Ambulance Department from 1975 to 1998
 * Ron Kelusky served from 1998 to 2003 (as GM of Toronto Ambulance Services). He implemented many of the changes that are seen today, such as the streaking 'A' markings on all vehicles. Kelusky is now VP and COO of The Ontario March of Dimes.
 * Bruce Farr - (Chief and General Manager) 2003-present

Staff


Toronto EMS has 1,171 members including paramedics and other support staff. There are 112 Emergency Medical Dispatchers or EMDs. This number includes Senior Emergency Medical Dispatchers and System Control Supervisors. All EMDs and Supervisors are certified by the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch (NAEMD).

Toronto EMS is divided into teams:


 * HUSAR – urban rescue team
 * Basic life support
 * Advance life support
 * Public Safety unit
 * CBRN – Chemical Biological Radiation Nuclear Paramedics
 * Tactical paramedics
 * Transport Unit
 * Emergency Service Unit
 * Emergency Response Unit
 * Mountain Bike Program
 * Marine Unit

Toronto EMS has the largest EMS Communications Centre in Canada and uses Tritech VisiCAD computer aided dispatch system. The Toronto EMS Communications Centre planning major redesign to be completed Summer 2007.

Positions In the Communications Centre include:

Call Receiver

All EMDs are trained as Emergency Call Receivers. Call Receivers are the men and women that answer when 911 is dialed. Call Receivers will ask where the emergency call is and will also take such information as major intersection, house or apartment number and entry code, telephone number, and the caller's name. Once this information is gathered, the Call Receivers will ask a specific question to determine the priority of the call. Call Receivers can also give first-aid, childbirth, CPR, and choking aid instructions.

Dispatcher

Toronto EMS Dispatchers handle hundreds of thousands of calls per year. The Dispatchers must send Paramedics to emergency, non-emergency, and courtesy calls. They must also ensure that the city has proper balanced coverage to ensure a quick response by Paramedics, but they must also attempt at workload balancing, arranging for Paramedic lunch breaks, and ensure that emergency calls are handled as quickly as possible

Hospital Coordinators

In 1999, Toronto EMS created the Hospital Coordinator position to help combat the growing hospital delay times for Paramedics. The goal was to ensure proper distribution of patients. Over the years, the Coordinator position evolved into two separate jobs: a Hospital Destination Coordinator and a Hospital Clearing Coordinator. Using the new Patient Distribution System (2004), the Hospital Destination Coordinator will direct Paramedics to area hospitals based on Patient Severity, time since a hospital last received a patient, and for certain patients, repatriation to a hospital that the patient has history with. The Hospital Clearing Coordinator works with Paramedics to clear them from Hospitals and get them back in service as quickly as possible.

One Desk

Supervision of the communications centre occurs at one desk, which is staffed by the Duty Officer, System Control Supervisor and Senior Dispatchers. Every facet of Communications Centre and it's operations go through the One Desk staff.

Other positions include:


 * P.C.T.U. (Non-Emergency Transfer Dispatchers)
 * Out of Town Dispatcher
 * Senior EMD
 * System Control Supervisor

The Toronto EMS Communications also has a comprehensive training and quality assurance department made up of two certified NAEMD Instructors and other faculty.