The County of Simcoe is marking one year since the implementation of the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS), with Paramedic Services reporting measurable improvements in how emergency calls are assessed and resources are deployed across the region.
In November 2024, the Georgian Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC) transitioned to MPDS, replacing the long-used Dispatch Priority Card Index II. The evidence-based system, used in tens of thousands of emergency communication centres worldwide, is designed to ensure the right response reaches the right patient at the right time.
After a full year in operation, the County reports a 38% reduction in calls classified as life-threatening, reflecting more accurate medical triage and fewer unnecessary lights-and-sirens responses. At the same time, response times for the most urgent emergencies improved by 21%, with overall response times continuing to meet or exceed provincial standards.
MPDS also supports Ontario’s “seamless principle,” allowing the closest appropriate ambulance to respond regardless of municipal boundaries. By sharing real-time information between neighbouring regions, the system reduces duplicate responses and helps ensure the fastest possible care for critical patients.
Ambulance deployment across Simcoe County is now driven by data rather than geography, using historical call volumes, population density, hospital demand, and time of day to position resources where risk is highest. Crews may be placed at strategic standby locations to maintain coverage, particularly as system pressures such as hospital offload delays and varying urban and rural demands affect availability.
“MPDS has strengthened our emergency response system and helped ensure that residents with the most urgent needs receive faster, more appropriate care,” says Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke, noting the work of paramedics and dispatch teams over the past year.
Paramedic Services are also reminding residents that clear and accurate information when calling 911 plays a key role in ensuring emergencies are properly prioritized and help is dispatched efficiently.
Learn more about the Medical Priority Dispatch System here.
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