Ornge Critical Care Land Ambulance base in Chatham-Kent becomes permanent
Patients and hospitals in southwestern Ontario to benefit from an increase in Critical Care transport services
September 8, 2022
8 September, 2022
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Mississauga
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By: Par: Ornge Media
Ornge, Ontario’s provider of air ambulance and related services, announces today the opening of its permanent Critical Care Land Ambulance program (CCLA) in Chatham-Kent. This marks the first official expansion of the Critical Care Land Ambulance program since its inception in 2008. Ornge has been operating in Chatham-Kent since April 13, 2020 on a temporary basis to support COVID-19 operations.
Staffed 12 hours a day, seven days per week, the permanent base in Chatham-Kent will enhance Ornge’s ability to provide patient care throughout the southwestern Ontario region, including the London-Windsor corridor and Sarnia.
“A permanent base in Chatham-Kent is great news for patients and our hospital partners,” says Wade Durham, Chief Operating Officer – Medical Operations. “This location has proven to be a necessary resource in the healthcare system during COVID-19 and we look forward to continue collaborating with our hospital and local paramedic service partners.”
Since April 2020, the Chatham-Kent CCLA base has transported more than 678 patients* throughout the region.
“Ornge would like to thank Chatham-Kent EMS, and particularly Donald MacLellan, General Manager, for collaborating with and hosting Ornge crews for the last two years at their headquarters,” says Durham. “We look forward to continued collaboration and making Chatham-Kent a permanent home for our crews.”
The new permanent Chatham-Kent base adds to Ornge’s existing CCLA bases including Mississauga, Peterborough and Ottawa. Ornge will still be available by helicopter and fixed wing aircraft as required depending on the circumstances of the transport.
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*Indicates the number of patients transported between April 2020 and July 12, 2022.
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.
About the Critical Care Land Ambulance Program
Ornge’s team of critical care land paramedics provides a faster and safer transport service of critically ill patients throughout the Greater Toronto area, Ottawa and Peterborough regions. The Critical Care Land Ambulance program relieves pressure on land ambulance services, reduces the need for hospitals to provide escort staff for critical transfers and allows Ornge to increase air ambulance availability for outlying rural and remote areas.
For more information, please contact:
Ornge Media Relations
416-531-7577
1-888-229-8115
Media@ornge.ca