Rapid response unit promises faster paramedic responses when most needed, starting Thursday
The unit will use real-time data to further reduce response times, MLPS says
On Thursday, Middlesex-London Paramedic Service (MLPS) is officially launching a specially designed unit of advanced care paramedics it hopes will ease the strain on first responder resources, while helping Londoners faster.
"We're incredibly excited," the MLPS's director of paramedic services, Adam Bennett. "This is a tremendous opportunity for us to provide better care and better access to advanced care for our communities."
The Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) Rapid Response Unit was first announced in early November, and now that training and setup has been complete, the unit is beginning its work, said Bennett.
The unit consists of single vehicles that are smaller and less resource-intensive than ambulances. Each vehicle will be staffed by one ACP, with the stated intent of being able to quickly respond to high priority calls that require advanced care, Bennett explained.
ACPs are highly trained paramedics, called when complex procedures are needed or medications only they are authorized to administer is necessary.
There will be two vehicles staffed by one ACP each active at any given time, he said.
Normally, ACPs would be transported on normal ambulances with full crews, taking those ambulances out of the pool of vehicles that are able to respond to other emergencies in the city, Bennett said.
"There's efficiency to be found in getting a smaller vehicle to the scene faster, and bringing one advanced care paramedic to the scene, rather than depleting the 9-1-1 system by sending additional transporting ambulances with advanced care paramedics."
According to Bennett, other paramedic services in the province have similar programs in effect, but the MLPS's program is one-of-a-kind in how it's being deployed.
"With every call to 9-1-1, a transporting ambulance will be dispatched to the call. With these rapid response units, we will be able to simultaneously dispatch an advanced care paramedic to the scene as well for the most critical calls," Bennett said.