Frontenac Paramedics - A Plan for the Future

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Frontenac Paramedics serve more than 164,000 residents across almost 4,000 sq/km of Eastern Ontario. About 150 Paramedics and a fleet of 17 ambulances (12 of which are in service at peak times) from seven stations attend some 23,000 calls per year. Response times and the other numbers we use to measure our performance over time meet or exceed pre-pandemic provincial guidelines and are competitive among those of other Paramedic services in Ontario. Even though patients are often living their very worst days when they meet and interact with Paramedics, we measure a 99.9 percent satisfaction rate among those we serve.


It’s a record of which we are individually and collectively proud. Virtually all that success is due to the individual contributions of Paramedics and the direct care they provide on-scene. Ours is a group of dedicated and highly trained women and men working together under sometimes very difficult conditions to help people solve big, life-threatening, problems.


Another part of our success involves putting time and resources into predicting, preparing for, and adapting to long-term change as it happens. We know for example that the population in our region, especially in the west end of Kingston, is increasing at a rate well beyond the national average. We also know that almost 70 percent of our patients are senior citizens and that the population as a whole is skewing older over time. Our most recent information predicts that the number of calls to Frontenac Paramedics is expected to rise by at least 4.5 percent every year for at least the next decade. There are already indications that we may exceed that rate, so we have approval to add eight new full-time paramedic positions and two new regular 12-hour paramedic shifts to the City of Kingston in 2023.


We know that vehicles, buildings, and equipment age, become obsolete and need to be continually maintained, refreshed, and eventually replaced. We're building a new Frontenac Paramedics station in 2023 on Frontenac County campus just north of 401 at Kingston. Plans are underway for another one in the west end of Kingston in the next couple of years.


The closest available paramedic crew to any given emergency responds no matter where they're stationed. In times of high demand in the city, that means crews stationed in rural areas are likely to be drawn to Kingston. These added new resources and facilities will serve Kingston residents as the city grows and they will also serve residents outside the city by keeping paramedic crews in rural areas more often.


We know that Paramedicine continues to change, too. Forty years ago, Paramedics were trained and equipped only to apply basic first aid and to transport patients to the nearest hospital. Contemporary paramedics administer more sophisticated and ever-evolving life-saving treatments. They are increasingly called upon to learn and master useful emerging life-saving technologies, so we have invested in autonomous IV program training to equip some paramedics to quickly administer medications in the field that were previously only authorized for hospital. We also added new computer software and processes to make patient data entry faster and more accurate for Paramedics so they spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork.


Paramedics have a broader role in their communities, too. They operate our growing Community Paramedicine Program to help our senior citizens and most vulnerable residents to navigate the complexities of the healthcare system and to live safely in the comfort of their own homes for as long as possible.


All those things we can see on the horizon imply that we need to continuously prepare so that Frontenac Paramedics are properly resourced in the future.


The 2023 Frontenac Paramedics' operating budget is about $21 million. Our plan for the future is to balance response times with the most cost-effective and efficient delivery model. We need to do all this while respecting taxpayers’ investment and with the appropriate foresight needed to expect and account for otherwise unexpected costs along the way.


This is where you come in.


The right column on this page is filled with information and resources you can use to equip yourself with the necessary knowledge to make informed and valuable contributions to funding and planning processes. Below on this page you will find a suite of tools you can use to interact with your fellow citizens, councillors, and municipal staff. This is a place to share and shape your knowledge, ideas, opinions, and stories. Your input on this page and at public meetings will all go into shaping Frontenac Paramedics' future course.


The provision of Paramedic services is all about you, your families, and your future. Your guidance, expertise, and engagement is critically important if we are to work together to ensure Frontenac Paramedics are ready when you need them, whether it be today or 10 years from now.

Frontenac Paramedics serve more than 164,000 residents across almost 4,000 sq/km of Eastern Ontario. About 150 Paramedics and a fleet of 17 ambulances (12 of which are in service at peak times) from seven stations attend some 23,000 calls per year. Response times and the other numbers we use to measure our performance over time meet or exceed pre-pandemic provincial guidelines and are competitive among those of other Paramedic services in Ontario. Even though patients are often living their very worst days when they meet and interact with Paramedics, we measure a 99.9 percent satisfaction rate among those we serve.


It’s a record of which we are individually and collectively proud. Virtually all that success is due to the individual contributions of Paramedics and the direct care they provide on-scene. Ours is a group of dedicated and highly trained women and men working together under sometimes very difficult conditions to help people solve big, life-threatening, problems.


Another part of our success involves putting time and resources into predicting, preparing for, and adapting to long-term change as it happens. We know for example that the population in our region, especially in the west end of Kingston, is increasing at a rate well beyond the national average. We also know that almost 70 percent of our patients are senior citizens and that the population as a whole is skewing older over time. Our most recent information predicts that the number of calls to Frontenac Paramedics is expected to rise by at least 4.5 percent every year for at least the next decade. There are already indications that we may exceed that rate, so we have approval to add eight new full-time paramedic positions and two new regular 12-hour paramedic shifts to the City of Kingston in 2023.


We know that vehicles, buildings, and equipment age, become obsolete and need to be continually maintained, refreshed, and eventually replaced. We're building a new Frontenac Paramedics station in 2023 on Frontenac County campus just north of 401 at Kingston. Plans are underway for another one in the west end of Kingston in the next couple of years.


The closest available paramedic crew to any given emergency responds no matter where they're stationed. In times of high demand in the city, that means crews stationed in rural areas are likely to be drawn to Kingston. These added new resources and facilities will serve Kingston residents as the city grows and they will also serve residents outside the city by keeping paramedic crews in rural areas more often.


We know that Paramedicine continues to change, too. Forty years ago, Paramedics were trained and equipped only to apply basic first aid and to transport patients to the nearest hospital. Contemporary paramedics administer more sophisticated and ever-evolving life-saving treatments. They are increasingly called upon to learn and master useful emerging life-saving technologies, so we have invested in autonomous IV program training to equip some paramedics to quickly administer medications in the field that were previously only authorized for hospital. We also added new computer software and processes to make patient data entry faster and more accurate for Paramedics so they spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork.


Paramedics have a broader role in their communities, too. They operate our growing Community Paramedicine Program to help our senior citizens and most vulnerable residents to navigate the complexities of the healthcare system and to live safely in the comfort of their own homes for as long as possible.


All those things we can see on the horizon imply that we need to continuously prepare so that Frontenac Paramedics are properly resourced in the future.


The 2023 Frontenac Paramedics' operating budget is about $21 million. Our plan for the future is to balance response times with the most cost-effective and efficient delivery model. We need to do all this while respecting taxpayers’ investment and with the appropriate foresight needed to expect and account for otherwise unexpected costs along the way.


This is where you come in.


The right column on this page is filled with information and resources you can use to equip yourself with the necessary knowledge to make informed and valuable contributions to funding and planning processes. Below on this page you will find a suite of tools you can use to interact with your fellow citizens, councillors, and municipal staff. This is a place to share and shape your knowledge, ideas, opinions, and stories. Your input on this page and at public meetings will all go into shaping Frontenac Paramedics' future course.


The provision of Paramedic services is all about you, your families, and your future. Your guidance, expertise, and engagement is critically important if we are to work together to ensure Frontenac Paramedics are ready when you need them, whether it be today or 10 years from now.

  • In celebration of Major-General Richard Rohmer's 100th birthday, Jan 24

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  • STRATEGIC PLAN: Options for the future of Frontenac Paramedics

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    Frontenac Paramedics Chief Gale Chevalier presented a series of initial options for the future of Frontenac Paramedics to Frontenac County Council at a Council strategic planning working group session on October 18, 2023.

    Chief Chevalier described a possible change in paramedics' current and traditional distributed, or fixed base, deployment model. A new, modern, central book-on model, or flexible-post model, would see paramedics report for work to a centralized location from which they are sent to where they are most needed.

    Chevalier described four possible options for the future long-term strategic direction:

    1. Minimal planning: Partner with City of Kingston on Taylor-Kidd/Demers but decline to construct a central book-on location. Complete design for third floor of administration building on Frontenac County Campus.
    2. Investigate converting Fairmount Home facilities on Frontenac County campus to central book-on and training facilities if Fairmount moves to another location.
    3. Investigate building an all new central book-on and training facility on Frontenac County campus.
    4. Purse a partnership with The City of Kingston for a central book-on and training facility at the Railway St. planned by and in The City of Kingston.

    It's important to note that these options are merely a starting point for Council discussion and consideration, and that strategic choices related to Frontenac Paramedics will likely be informed by the strategic decisions pertaining to Fairmount Home. Click here to learn more about Fairmount Home.

    Council voted to gather more information related to costs with the City of Kingston with an eye to further exploring option four above. Next steps to come in due course after staff reports back to Council.

    Watch video of Chief Chevalier's presentation below for more detail and cost implications.

    And watch Frontenac County CAO Kelly Pender introduce the strategic proposals and discussion for Frontenac Paramedics and Fairmount Home. . .

  • Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus Releases Refresh of Paramedic Services Regional Report

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    Eastern Ontario - The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) is proud to release the Partial Refresh of the 2019 EOWC Paramedic Services Situation Overview Report.

    The refreshed report can be seen here.

    The EOWC set paramedic services as a priority for 2023 in response to the growing pressure faced by paramedic services throughout the region. The report includes updated data for both the EOWC as a region as well as each of the 13 member municipalities following the initial EOWC paramedic services situational overview report from 2019. The EOWC looks forward to sharing the report, key findings and recommendations with its Ontario Government partners and key stakeholders to work together to improve paramedics services, community paramedicine and the overall community healthcare across rural eastern Ontario.

    The report contains an updated environmental scan, new five-year predictive forecasts, and the following priority recommendations:

    • Hospital offload delays need to be fixed
    • Community paramedicine programs require a provincial commitment to permanent and predictable funding
    • The dispatch system needs to be modernized to ensure the deployment of resources appropriate to 911 response, and to support community paramedicine
    • Community college paramedic enrollment needs to increase

    “As part of the community healthcare sector, paramedic services carried communities throughout the pandemic. The EOWC likes to do our homework and this report shows exactly that. We look forward to advocating for these evidence-based recommendations and working with our provincial partners to make improvements,” stated EOWC Chair Peter Emon.

    “As a former nurse, I am proud to be part of finding solutions based on data and would like thank staff that were involved. This report sheds light on what needs to be done to better support our rural communities and find efficiencies in the healthcare system. I look forward to continuing to advocate for improved healthcare systems and resource allocation,” said EOWC Vice-Chair, Bonnie Clark.

    The EOWC recognizes contributions from the Paramedic Services Chiefs, Chief Administrative Officers, and municipal staff from across the region. The EOWC would like to thank ApexPro Consulting Inc. for their services in developing both the initial report in 2019 and this 2023 refreshed report.

    Video of Frontenac Paramedics Chief Gale Chevalier and Frontenac County CAO Kelly Pender briefing Frontenac County Council on the report 21 June, 2023:



    About the EOWC

    The EOWC is an incorporated non-profit organization comprised of the Heads of Council of 13 upper and single-tier municipalities across rural eastern Ontario. The Caucus supports and advocates on behalf of 103 municipalities and nearly 800,000 residents. The EOWC covers an area of almost 50,000 square kilometres from the County of Northumberland to the Québec border. The EOWC has gained support and momentum by speaking with a united voice to champion regional municipal priorities and work with government, business leaders, the media, and the public.

    For more information, please contact:
    EOWC General and Media Inquiries, info@eowc.org
    Peter Emon, Chair, info@eowc.org
    Bonnie Clark, Vice-Chair, info@eowc.org
    Meredith Staveley-Watson, Manager of Government Relations and Policy, meredith.staveley-watson@eowc.org or 647-545-8324

  • Frontenac Paramedic honoured for bravery at Queen’s Park after dangerous lake rescue

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    TORONTO, ON – Frontenac Paramedic Kimberly Fitzsimmons is among a small group of Ontario paramedics who received the inaugural Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery, May 24.

    The award was presented at Queen’s Park by Ontario Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell, and Ontario Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Syliva Jones. The Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery, new this year, is presented in recognition of individual acts of outstanding courage and bravery performed by members of Ontario’s paramedic services. The presentation coincides with Paramedic Services Week.


    Ontario Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Frontenac Paramedic Kimberly Fitzsimmons, Ontario Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Syliva Jones

    "It means the world to be among the first paramedics to receive the Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery,” says Frontenac Paramedic Kimberly Fitzsimmons. "I am so thankful for the nomination, and it is so special to share this experience with those paramedics who were also honored. Our profession has a unique skill set and does not often get the recognition it so often deserves. I am so happy that this medal signifies a change here. I feel every paramedic ought to be celebrated for what they do."


    On August 2, 2022, while off-duty, Fitzsimmons was toweling off after a swim in Lake Ontario when she spotted a man thrashing and then submerging into the water. She immediately dove into the water to rescue the man, who had sunk 15 feet to the bottom of the lake. After surfacing with the unconscious man, Paramedic Fitzsimmons swam them both to a nearby beach. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and without any PPE, she immediately began performing life-saving measures. She continued CPR until first responders arrived and took the man to hospital. Even while off-duty, Paramedic Fitzsimmons put herself in harm’s way to save a stranger’s life.

    “It’s a great honour and privilege that one of Frontenac Paramedics is among those who earned the new Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery,” says Frontenac Paramedics Chief Gale Chevalier. “Ms. Fitzsimmons didn’t hesitate, despite great personal risk, to aid a stranger in need. Congratulations Kimberly and thank you for your dedication.”

    -30-

    More about the Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery: https://www.ontario.ca/page/honours-and-awards-bravery#section-2

    More about the recipients this year, including Ms. Fitzsimmons: Recipients of Inaugural Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery | Ontario Newsroom

    More about Frontenac Paramedics: FrontenacParamedics.ca and engagefrontenac.ca/frontenac-paramedics

    More about Paramedic Services Week: https://www.paramedicchiefs.ca/paramedic-services-week-2023/

  • Frontenac County approves $1 million in new spending for Frontenac Paramedics

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    GLENBURNIE, ON – Frontenac County Council today voted unanimously to approve a 2023 budget that includes $1 million to hire eight new full-time Paramedics to staff two new 12-hour ambulance crew shifts stationed in the City of Kingston.

    “There’s a lot of demand for Paramedics’ time across the County,” says Frontenac County Warden Ron Vandewal. “We have to do more with less spending power this year but people’s health is the most important thing. Having more paramedics on the road in the city will help to reduce the number times paramedics stationed in rural areas are called to Kingston.”


    Frontenac County and Frontenac Paramedics broke ground in October on a new two-bay, $3-million, paramedic station on Frontenac County campus just north of 401 at Montreal St.

    The previous projection for increasing demand for paramedic services in the City of Kingston as the population grows and grows older was about 3.8 percent per year through 2029 but Frontenac Paramedics’ data show an increase of at least five percent per year in each of the last two years. As well as rising call volumes, paramedics are spending more time on scene and more time at emergency departments before patients are passed to hospital care than anticipated.

    “These much-needed new resources will help ensure that we are able to continue to maintain the high standard of patient care we’ve promised,” says Frontenac Paramedics Chief Gale Chevalier. “I want to thank members of Frontenac County Council and their funding partners for supporting this plan, especially during this year of such difficult financial choices.”

    The new resources are also in addition to the new $3-million paramedics station planned for construction later this year on Frontenac County campus in Glenburnie. When complete, the new station will help to address paramedic response times where demand is high in the Rideau Heights and Montreal St. areas of Kingston, the Highway 401 corridor, and the rapidly developing areas of The Township of South Frontenac.


    Background:

    Frontenac Paramedics Chief Gale Chevalier presentation to Council, Feb 8

    Frontenac County Council approves plan for construction of new Frontenac Paramedics station in Glenburnie

    Frontenac County, Frontenac Paramedics break ground on new paramedic station

    Frontenac Paramedics - A Plan for the Future


    Matt Mills, Communications Officer, County of Frontenac

    Phone: 613-548-9400 x 305 Email: mmills@frontenaccounty.ca

  • Frontenac County, Frontenac Paramedics break ground on new paramedic station

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    Glenburnie, ON – Elected officials, honoured guests, and members of the media gathered at Frontenac County campus at 2069 Battersea Rd. today to kick-off construction of a new Frontenac Paramedics station.


    The new two-bay paramedics station will add capacity for Frontenac Paramedics to accommodate more ambulances and on-duty paramedics as demand for service continues to grow. The new station, located five minutes north of the Montreal St exit at Highway 401, will primarily serve the Rideau Heights and Montreal St. areas of Kingston, the Highway 401 corridor, and the rapidly developing areas of the Township of South Frontenac.

    “Congratulations to the County for such incredible work in maintaining top-notch level of paramedic services not just in Kingston but in rural areas as well,” says Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen. “We truly are grateful for the incredible service you’ve provided over the years.”

    A 2019 submission to Frontenac County Council by international emergency services consultancy firm Operational Research in Health Ltd. (ORH) projected that 408 additional weekly ambulance hours will be required by Frontenac Paramedics by 2029. That means three new ambulances and crews and one extra spare ambulance will be needed to maintain service levels as populations grow larger and skew older. The new station will help equip Frontenac Paramedics to accommodate those resources.

    “We on Frontenac County Council continue to advocate for fast, reliable, and effective paramedic services for residents of all areas, rural and urban,” says Frontenac County Warden Denis Doyle. “This new base is just one example of that work completed in Frontenac over the last decade to equip paramedics for the future.”

    Costs for the new station will be shared between Frontenac County and the City of Kingston.

    “This new base is just one of the many steps we’re taking to ensure that Frontenac Paramedics is staffed and equipped to meet the new realities,” says Frontenac Paramedics Chief Gale Chevalier. “We appreciate the support of Frontenac County Council.”

    It is expected that the new base will be ready for in the spring. More information about the new Frontenac Paramedics station project can be found here: https://bit.ly/3LUK3Yt(External link).

    More information about Frontenac County Council’s and Frontenac Paramedics’ plan for the future can be found here: https://bit.ly/3dQz7OX(External link)


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  • Frontenac County Council approves plan for construction of new Frontenac Paramedics station in Glenburnie

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    Preliminary work is underway for a new Frontenac Paramedics station to be built on the existing Frontenac County Administration Campus at 2069 Battersea Road in Glenburnie.

    Frontenac County Council has authorized County staff to complete the necessary planning work and to issue a request for proposals for construction of the new two-bay station. When complete, the new station will bring the number of Frontenac Paramedics stations serving Frontenac County and Kingston to eight. The project is expected to cost up to $3 million.

    “This new Paramedic base is the next critical step in our long-term plan to ensure Frontenac Paramedics are fully equipped to serve residents of Frontenac County and Kingston as the need for service increases in the coming years,” says Frontenac County Warden, Denis Doyle. “Building the new station on the Frontenac County Campus will help maintain response times while saving taxpayers the costs associated with buying or leasing new land.”

    The location of the new station will add to Frontenac Paramedics’ overall capacity. It will especially help to address paramedic response times where demand is high in the Rideau Heights and Montreal St. areas of Kingston, the Highway 401 corridor, and rapidly developing areas of The Township of South Frontenac.

    “We’ve seen sharply increased demands on Paramedics and all frontline healthcare workers during the pandemic and we’re anticipating that call volume will increase at least 4.5 percent every year for the next decade,” says Frontenac Paramedics Chief Gale Chevalier. “This new base is just one of the many steps we’re taking to ensure that Frontenac Paramedics is staffed and equipped to meet these realities. We appreciate the support of Frontenac County Council.”

Page last updated: 24 Jan 2024, 03:45 PM