Feature Article December 4, 2002
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FMB Improves Land Ambulance ServicesThe Frontenac Management Board has approved more improvements of service to Frontenac and the City of Kingston residents. Tom Bedford, manager of Land Ambulance Services, reports that the FMB will be introducing two additional service improvements in the Frontenacs. These improvements include:
1. Expansion of the hours of the Parham Ambulance Base from, 12 hours per day on-call coverage, to 24 hours per day on-site coverage, 7 days per week.
2. Additional staffed hours, including the introduction of a new Emergency Response Vehicle to the Kingston area. The ERV is staffed by one paramedic, who responds to the scene in conjunction with a responding ambulance, thus reducing the time for qualified help to arrive at the patient.These improvements are to come into effect as soon as possible and are in addition to significant improvements implemented in 2001, which included the addition of another new vehicle and expansion of existing staffed vehicles in Kingston, and an additional new ERV in the central and northern portion of the county.
The announced improvements are part of the continuing commitment of the Frontenac Management Board to the improvement of ambulance services. To date, in addition to the these service improvements, the Board has replaced all existing defibrillators with state-of-the-art 12 lead ECG monitor-defibrillators over the last two years. The Board has also authorized the purchase of seven ambulances to replace the aging fleet since taking the service over from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in 2001. The Frontenac Management Board is committed to the continuing improvement of response time and patient care standards. FMB Chair Phil Leonard expressed "...our deepest pride and admiration of the men and women who serve as paramedics... We are happy to provide them with the tools to get the job done."
