With the launch of this trial, our goal is to bring mental health expertise to the patient in transport and increase the quality of care provided.

Ornge, Ontario’s provider of air ambulance and critical transport services, is pleased to announce the launch of a one year trial for a mental health team dedicated to providing mental health transports in Northern communities.
 
Based at Thunder Airlines in Thunder Bay, the team is comprised of a Registered Nurse who is experienced and specially trained in mental health care, as well as trained security personnel.  Team members will receive additional training in de-escalation.  There will also be a Primary Care Flight Paramedic on board the aircraft during transports.  The team will carry specialized psychiatric medications.
 
“Based on our experience providing transport services to Ontario’s remote north, we recognize the significant burden of mental illness in Northern and First Nations communities, and the need for these patients to receive timely and expert care,” says Dr. Bruce Sawadsky, Chief Medical Officer for Ornge. “With the launch of this trial, our goal is to bring mental health expertise to the patient in transport and increase the quality of care provided.”
 
The team is available 12 hours per day from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will only transport mental health patients.  In addition to the patient care benefits, this team is expected to decrease response times.  Hospitals and nursing stations can access this team through Ornge’s patient booking process.

About Ornge
Ornge, a not-for-profit organization, co-ordinates all aspects of Ontario’s air ambulance system, the critical care land transport program and the authorisation of air and land ambulance transfers between hospitals.

For more information please contact:
Ornge Media Relations
media@ornge.ca
416-531-7577 (local)
1-888-229-8115 (toll free)

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