Sault hospital frees up paramedics by reducing offload times for ambulances

Sault Area Hospital slashed paramedic offload times from one hour to less than 20 minutes. Cory Nordstrom reports.

A change in strategy has drastically improved offload wait times for those brought by ambulance to the Sault Area Hospital.

Just more than two months ago, the hospital and local EMS implemented a new system to get patients out of the ambulance and into the hospital more quickly.

“We might see anywhere from 120 to 160 patients per day (and) between 25 and 30 per cent of that comes via EMS,” said Michelle Rosso, director of clinical programs at Sault Area Hospital.

“A year ago, it was not uncommon for them to wait an hour. And now they’re waiting less than 20 minutes.”

New system

The new system was developed with guidance from the two local agencies, as well as consultants Optimus SBR and the North York General Hospital.

“We now have a dedicated nurse over what’s called a horizontal waiting room,” Rosso said.

“That nurse meets the ambulance at the entrance and they do an assessment -- take a report from the ambulance. At that point, we assume care from there.”

A major benefit of the change is that it frees up paramedics, who no longer need to wait as long with patients and can get back on the road.

Big impact

Rosso said that it has a significant impact.

“It’s huge for the community,” she said.

“They have a limited number of ambulances available for the community, and every time one to three of those ambulances are held up at the hospital, they’re not available for calls. And that can include very high-level 911 calls. So now all the ambulances are available.”

Rosso said patients tend to feel more comfortable once moved into the hospital. Even with the new system, she said the hospital is searching for ways to improve the stay and onboarding of patients.