PARAMEDICINE IN ONTARIO

Highlights of Ontario's EHS System

Prior to 1966

• no coordination of services, no continuity of service, no standards of training
• service provided by the private sector, municipalities, hospitals and volunteers

1966

• Ambulance Act introduced by the Ontario Government
• authority and responsibility for licensing, standard setting, and coordination of services and communication

1967

• training program established at Canadian Forces Base Borden
• FCC course, Fundamentals of Casualty Care

1970

• province divides up into seven regions
• regional control and dispatch centers begin

1972

• Ambulance Services Branch developed within the Ministry of Health

1975

• major changes to the Ambulance Act
• new regulations covering the licensing of ambulance services, qualifications for employment, vehicle and equipment standards, record keeping and reports, management use and operation of ambulances
• Ambulance and Emergency Care programs introduced in Community Colleges - EMCA

1976

• Heart & Stroke Foundation initiates CPR training courses

1977

• ACLS programs initiated in Sault Ste. Marie, Oshawa, and North Bay
• "Bandage" program begins

1980

• Province wide Central Dispatch Services are introduced (CACC)

1981

• MOH declares EHS a high priority ~ "Develop modern, comprehensive EHS system in Ontario by 1988"

1988

• Base Hospital program established to provide leadership, quality assurance, and medical direction

1991

• Basic Trauma Life Support introduced (BLS)
• improvements to both land and air ambulance service continues however service levels offered throughout the province remains inconsistent

1992/1993

• I.V. monitoring program introduced

1994

• Ambulance and Emergency Care CSAC Report Standard
• OPALS project
• semi-automatic defibrillators

1995/1996

• SAM
• Symptom Relief Project
• Ventilators

1997

• name change - Paramedic
• BLS Standards
• operational changes

1998

• change in funding from provincial to municipal

1999

• all Paramedic Programs go to two year format

Reproduced with permission from Mark Hunter - Fanshawe College Paramedic Program Coordinator