Medical Priority Dispatch System launches in Durham Region

Whitby, Ontario – Starting today, the Region of Durham Paramedic Services (RDPS) and Oshawa Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC) are implementing the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) to enhance how 9-1-1 medical emergencies are assessed and how paramedic services are deployed in the region.

With MPDS, people calling 9-1-1 will be asked more detailed questions by Ambulance Communications Officers to accurately determine the nature and urgency of the medical emergency. This will ensure the right level of care is provided to those who need it most, as quickly as possible.

MPDS is currently used in several Ontario regions including Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga and Kingston. MPDS has become the industry standard for emergency medical call triaging. It replaces the older Dispatch Priority Card Index system, which often led to the over-prioritization of non-urgent calls, straining limited paramedic services.

By transitioning to MPDS, the Oshawa CACC will better allocate paramedic services, helping to ease pressures on emergency departments and support the Ontario government’s Your Health Plan to deliver the right care at the right time.

The MPDS optimizes paramedic resources, prioritizing the most urgent 9-1-1 calls and ensuring the right care at the right time for people living in the region.

Under MPDS:

• Lights-and-siren responses will be reserved for the most time-sensitive, life-threatening emergencies.
• Lower-priority calls will be managed with appropriate dispatch timing and follow-up call-backs to reassess patient condition.
• Individuals who call 9-1-1 for non-life-threatening issues may be waiting longer for service. This depends on the nature of the call and the patient’s condition. Ambulance Communications Officers will check in to assess if there has been a change in patient’s condition and reprioritize as needed.

For more information about RDPS, please visit durham.ca/ParamedicServices.