BURN PATIENTS I PATIENTS ON A FORM 1 I TREAT AND RETURN PATIENTS I BARIATRIC PATIENTS
Scene Call
Ornge may be contacted to answer a burn scene call by local emergency responders. However, before being transported to a burn centre, Ornge is first required to transport the patient to the nearest hospital. After doing so, Ornge may re-position its aircraft to await the possibility the local hospital will through CritiCall find an appropriate bed for the patient at a burn centre.
Modified Scene Call
If the patient has been transported by land EMS to the nearest hospital, Ornge may be called in by the sending facility to transport the patient to a burn centre once a burn bed has been secured.
In Ontario there are limited burn and neurology beds. Ornge cannot transport a patient until the sending facility has secured one of these beds for the patient at the receiving facility.
Patients on a Form 1 or an APA (Application for Psychiatric Assessment) cannot be transported by Ornge unless they are accompanied by police officers or appropriate security personnel. Ornge paramedics are not police officers or security guards, and therefore they cannot enforce the stipulation of the Form 1.
Hospitals must indicate at the time transport is requested if the patient is to be transported for a test/appointment and returned to the sending facility (treatment and return) or if they are being transported and admitted to the receiving hospital (admission to hospital). By indicating the purpose of the transport and providing as much patient medical information as possible, the OCC will be able to plan and efficiently utilize limited resources. Specifying whether the transport is “treatment and return” or “admission to hospital” at the time of the request will assist us in our planning and our ongoing efforts to provide you with timely transport for your patients.
Ornge’s number one priority is the safety of our patients and staff. Ornge collects information regarding the patient’s height, girth, and weight to ensure the appropriate aircraft and equipment are utilized to transport the patient.
The relevant patient information must be collected to prevent the deployment of an aircraft which cannot safely accommodate the patient. All efforts will be made to find an appropriate aircraft however if Ornge cannot transfer the patient safely, the sending facility is advised to consider land transfer or other means of transport.