Who we are
The Ottawa Paramedic Service delivers medical treatment for life-threatening medical emergencies including heart attacks, strokes, respiratory and traumatic injuries and covers an area of 2,796 sq. km.
Ottawa's highly trained paramedics form an integral part of the City's emergency preparedness team and are the sole medically certified providers of out-of-hospital medical treatment.
The Ottawa Paramedic Service is committed to providing residents of Ottawa with the knowledge and skills to prevent injuries and handle emergency situations.
Ottawa Paramedic Service video
Take a look at what our activities look like year round, 24/7. Please note this video was produced prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ottawa Paramedic Service
Visual: The word welcome appears on the screen in multiple languages.
Visual: an ambulance arrives at the scene of a collision between two vehicles.
Over 650 employees.
Visual: a paramedic assists an individual (patient) who was in a car accident, now receiving treatment comfortably installed on a stretcher.
Over 450 paramedics.
Visual: Firefighters and paramedics attend the scene.
Over 145,000 calls per year.
Visual: Two paramedics load the patient into the back of a paramedic unit.
Visual: An Equipment Supply Technician closes the paramedic unit door.
Over 45 equipment supply technicians.
Visual: A technician checks supplies within the paramedic unit.
Process over 120 vehicles per day.
Visual: A technician puts supplies into a bag.
Visual: A paramedic is conducting a first aid course.
Over 650 first aid classes per year.
Visual: Two paramedics in full protective gear.
4 special teams.
Visual: Paramedic staff work in a large room with computers and large screens.
Visual: A paramedic staff member types on a keyboard in front of multiple screens.
Over 500 calls per day.
Visual: A paramedic staff member answers a call.
Visual: A group photo of paramedics in uniform. A 2SLGBTQ+ rainbow graphic appears on the screen.
Positive space. This is a positive space that welcomes everyone.
Visual: The screen fades to black.
Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS)
MPDS is a tool that communications officers use to assess a patient’s condition over the phone so they can dispatch paramedic resources appropriately. With MPDS, patients with life threatening conditions will receive a response from paramedics before patients with less severe injuries or illnesses.
Answering 9-1-1 questions
When you call 9-1-1, communications officers will ask detailed questions to collect as much information as possible about the patient’s condition. These questions are important and help determine the level of urgency.
Please be patient and kind to communications officers. Answer their questions as best as possible, and if you are placed on hold, please do not hang up.
Wait times for paramedics
Life threatening calls
Patients with life threatening illnesses or injuries need medical help quickly. For example, paramedics will be dispatched immediately for patients experiencing a heart attack, unconsciousness, severe breathing problems, or severe allergic reactions.
You may be provided with instructions on how you can help the patient while waiting for paramedics to arrive. This could include giving first aid or medications, such as an EPI-pen, performing CPR, or other actions you can take to help.
Non-life threatening calls
Non-life threatening calls will receive a paramedic response as soon as possible. You may wait longer for paramedics to arrive if they are busy tending to patients with life threatening illnesses or injuries.
Communications officers will call patients every 30 or 60 minutes to check on their health status while they wait. Please be patient. Please do not call back unless the patient’s condition worsens. In this case, call 9-1-1 immediately to report the change in the patient’s health.
More information about MPDS
ParamedicPublicRelations@ottawa.ca
613-580-4771
Your health information
Personal health information is collected to help provide you with care and service or to process payments for health-related services.
Personal health information includes identifying information that relates to the provision of health care such as your:
- Name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Ontario health card number
- Health care history
The information is used to respond to your health care needs. If you can’t provide information, it may be collected from others to assess your needs.
Under the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), you have the right to withdraw or limit this consent which protects your information from further use or disclosure but may affect the provision of health care.
You have the right to:
- Access your personal health information (e.g., ambulance call report), subject to limited exceptions as set out in PHIPA
- Request a correction to a record if it is incomplete or inaccurate
Request access to personal health information
Your personal health information is kept private, unless the Ottawa Paramedic Service is required to disclose any details for law enforcement purposes, or specifically authorized under PHIPA to share it with others. You may provide written consent for another individual such as a family member to obtain a record of your personal health information.
What you need
Patient/client
Electronic copy of one photo ID (PDF, JPEG, PNG), such as
- Driver’s license
- Ontario Photo ID or
- Health card
Legal guardian of child under the age of 16
- Electronic copy of photo ID (PDF, JPEG, PNG)
- Proof of guardianship
- Patient/client’s health card
Estate Trustee or person authorized to request personal health information
- Electronic copy of photo ID (PDF, JPEG, PNG)
- Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee or other legal documentation, such as a will, confirming the person who has assumed responsibility for the administration of the deceased’s estate
Cost
There is no fee for this request
Apply
Request for access to personal health information
What’s next
Your request will be reviewed, and you can expect a response within 30 business days. If additional information is required, you will be contacted via email.
Contact
Phone
613-580-2424 ext. 22475
Professional Standards
Ottawa Paramedic Service
2465 Don Reid Drive
Ottawa, ON K1H 1E2
Medical coverage for special events
If organizing a special event and require paid-duty paramedics for medical coverage, please send an email detailing the date, time, locations and duration of the special event as well as the estimated number of attendees to specialeventsparamed@ottawa.ca.
Prevention and Awareness
Paramedics make presentations at schools or community groups in order to inform and educate students and residents about injury and illness prevention. If you would like paramedics to attend your school or community group meeting, please send an email to paramedicpublicrelations@ottawa.ca with date, time, location and duration of event.