Superior North EMS Granted Provincial Certificate to Operate a Land Ambulance Service

The review team, consisting of specially trained paramedics and management personnel from EMS systems across Ontario and the Ministry of Health examined the operational aspects of Superior North EMS. Paramedics from the team also rode-along with Superior North EMS paramedics to observe while patient care calls were completed. The concept is very similar to hospital accreditation processes but with more direct observation of patient care.

"The Ministry of Health has issued a Certificate to Operate a Land Ambulance Service to the City of Thunder Bay", said Norm Gale, Director of EMS. "This authorizes the City to operate the service for the next three years."

"The Ministry inspection team was very impressed with our operation, and in particular, they noted how we are using technology to deliver and improve the service that we provide to the citizens in the District of Thunder Bay, with our commitment to serving the needs of diverse communities' and with the patient care that was provided by our paramedics", added Gale.

This Ambulance Service Review program is conducted every three years for each EMS system in the Province. Depending on the findings, a certificate to operate is issued for one, two or three years. The certification period is dependent on the service's overall performance. The team that visited Superior North EMS consisted of 20 people, the largest such review team outside of the City of Toronto. "This is reflective of the size of Superior North EMS, both geographically and personnel-wise", said Gale. "I am very pleased with the results of the review, and I congratulate and thank our staff for their efforts not only during the review process, but at all times, as they provide excellent emergency medical service to the citizens in the District of Thunder Bay."