York Region paramedics exceed response time targets in 2023

York Region Paramedics Services surpassed all its response time targets in 2023.

The emergency service has targets for responding to sudden cardiac arrests and five subcategories, according to a 2023 performance report. 

York Region chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson said protecting residents’ health is a priority. 

“By continuing to invest and improve paramedic services, we help ensure paramedics continue responding to the growing and diverse needs of our communities," Emmerson said in a news release. 

The targets are based on what percentage of the time paramedics meet a targeted response window.

In terms of cardiac arrest, the target is for paramedics to get to a scene within six minutes 60 per cent of the time, with local paramedics managing that 66 per cent of the time in 2023. The average response time was five minutes, 28 seconds.

York Region Paramedic Services similarly managed that for other categories and had generally faster responses compared to 2022:

 

The region said faster times were managed by integrating community-based strategies like involving local municipal fire services, keeping hospital transfer times below 30-minute targets and the addition of a new response station in Markham.

For 2024 and beyond, the paramedic service plans to implement a modernized dispatch system at the Georgina Central Ambulance Communities Centre in November. More response stations are also expected to be built, with three to be added by 2031, including a new station coming to Vaughan’s Maple community.

Community paramedicine is also expected to continue.

“As York Region’s population continues to grow and age, the demand for paramedic services is also projected to increase to more than 163,600 calls per year by 2031,” Vaughan Regional Councillor and community and health services chair Gino Rosati said in a news release. “Continued efforts on innovation and partnerships will grow York Region Paramedic Services as an integral part of the community and health care systems now and for years to come.”

Paramedics responded to 92,473 incidents in 2023, a slight decrease from 2022’s 93,639.

You can find the full report through the region’s website.