Grey County paramedic services is meeting it's response time targets, and preparing to address the needs of a growing community.
Kevin McNab, Director of Paramedic Services with Grey County, said for the 2023 calendar year, Grey County paramedics exceeded targets for all call types while responding to a record 15,046 total calls for response.
“Grey County is committed to continuous improvements in our paramedic services. This is reflected in the response time targets which are developed annually,” explained McNab. “Even as call volumes continue to grow, our professional team is rising to the challenge, proving high quality and timely first response to those in need.”
He added their commitment is to arrive as quickly as possible to medical emergencies.
"We are one of the largest municipalities in southern Ontario, at 4,500 square kilometres. So there's a large geographic area that we cover," continued McNab. "We really focus our response times on arriving to patient sites as quickly as possible for critical emergencies. We look at times like six minutes for cardiac arrest."
He said Grey County reviews response targets each year. Performance is measured across six triage levels determined by the severity of the call.
"SCA (sudden cardiac arrest) are the most urgent and have a response target of six minutes or less 40 per cent of the time. CTAS 1 calls require resuscitation and are life threatening, such as cardiac arrests or major trauma. The response target for CTAS 1 calls is eight minutes or less 60 per cent of the time. CTAS 2 calls require emergency care and may be life threatening, such as a head injury or internal bleeding. The response target for CTAS 2 calls is 15 minutes or less 90 per cent of the time. CTAS 3 calls require urgent care for conditions that could progress to serious problems, such as moderate breaking problems or a resolved seizure. CTAS 4 calls are less urgent conditions that would benefit from help or reassurance, such as wounds requiring stitches. CTAS 5 calls are non-urgent conditions which could be delayed or referred to other areas of the healthcare system, such as a sore throat or a dressing change. The response time for CTAS 3, CTAS 4 and CTAS 5 calls is 20 minutes or less 90 per cent of the time," according to McNab.
He pointed out their new comprehensive deployment review will help ensure paramedics can continue to answer calls in a timely manner. McNab stated the review predicts an increase of 5.8 per cent call volume each year over 10 years.
"In 2020, during COVID, we actually had a reduction in calls but then in the next year you can have a significant increase," he said. "So it has to be looked at over time. And that if you look at where we're at, with call volume over the last five years, its a 26.9 per cent increase over five years."
He revealed the review predicts an increase of 5.8 per cent call volume each year over ten years. Over 26 new workers will be needed at Grey County Paramedic services over the next decade.
He said that their best response times are in populated areas, but there are plans to address rural response times. This year, two additional cars will be added; one in Hanover and one in Owen Sound. Next year, a new vehicle will be added, along with a new base in Feversham. In 2026 Grey County will be adding a base in Ayton. In 2027 there are plans to add a base in Thornbury. And in 2028, a base will be stationed in Cobble Beach, depending upon budget approval.