The North Bay & District Ambulance Service services the city of North Bay and surrounding area for a total population of approximately 65,000 people and runs 15,000 calls annually. The service operates with 27 full time paramedics, 15 part time paramedics, 1 Operations Supervisor, and 1 Ambulance Clerk, all under the direction of the EMS Manager. The service works within the operating guidelines set out by the Ambulance Act and all other governing legislation.
The North Bay & District Ambulance service is a 24 hour 7 day a week Basic Life Support / Advance Life Support service that provides high quality pre-hospital patient care to the sick and injured. The Ambulance Service staff four vehicles during day time hours. One vehicle starts at 0700 hrs ending at 1900 hrs (Ferris Base), two more vehicles begin at 0800 hrs ending at 2000 hrs (Scollard Base), and one more vehicle starting at 1000 hrs ending at 1800 hrs (this vehicle is Monday to Friday only.) The night shift has three vehicles, one starts at 1900 hrs ending at 0700 hrs (Ferris Base), with two more vehicles at Scollard Base, one starting at 1800 hrs and ending at 0600 hrs, and the other starting at 2000 hrs ending at 0800 hrs. Additional resources in a time of increased call volume or MCI’s include our Emergency Response Vehicle and Emergency Support Unit. This complement of staffed vehicles has allowed the service to succeed in meeting the 90th percentile in response times (Enroute within two minutes of being notified of Code 4 calls, and an average response time to the patient in ten minutes).
In May 2006 the service assumed responsibilities for a new EMS Station in Whitney, Ontario. The District of Nipissing Social Services Board opened this station to provide pre-hospital care to the communities at the south end of the Nipissing District. From mid April to mid October it operates with an 8 hour on-site crew 7 days a week complimented with a 16 hours call back crew evenings and nights.
Due to decreased call volumes in the fall and winter months the Whitney station operates with one paramedic responding to emergencies in a First Response capacity to provide pre-hospital care in a timely manner.
The entire staff is committed to providing the highest quality of patient care. This is achieved by an in house QA program that has 100% of all code 4 calls and 10% of all other calls reviewed and audited. This coupled with Base Hospital programs and Regional Training reviews provides an excellent resource for staff to achieve a higher standard of care.
We recognize that the provision of quality patient care is only possible through the strong relationships that exist with other agencies such as the Central Ambulance Communication Center (North Bay), North Bay General Hospital, Northeastern Ontario Prehospital Care Program, North Bay Fire Department, out lying Fire Departments, the Ontario Provincial Police and the North Bay City Police Service. Finally, the relationship with the District of Nipissing Social Services Board and the other ambulance services within our borders strengthens our commitment to a higher quality of patient care.
Jim Stewart, AEMCA
Emergency Medical Services Manager
North Bay & District Ambulance