Meet Megan Cornwall, a Medical Communications Officer in Ornge’s Operations Control Centre who recently celebrated 10 years of service. Megan spoke with us about what it means to be a communications officer and how she contributes to the significance of Ornge’s operations in Ontario.

Can you introduce yourself, how long you’ve been with Ornge, and your current position?

My Name is Megan Cornwall. I am a registered nurse, and I have just celebrated 10 years working with Ornge as a Medical Communications Officer. 10 years has truly flown by.  I absolutely love this job and couldn’t imagine doing anything else now. 

What do you do in your current position?

As a Medical Communications Officer, I work in the Operations Control Center (OCC). The main purpose of my job is to receive incoming calls from medical facilities initiating transfers with Ornge.  I obtain demographics and particular medical information and then the information is forwarded to our Transport Medical Physician to review and Flight Communications Officers.  The Flight (COs) work diligently to dispatch Critical Care land resources, fixed-wing aircraft or rotor aircraft throughout the province.  I also make and receive numerous calls to medical facilities, Nursing stations, Local Ambulance dispatches, Nurses, doctors, paramedics etc.  The phones never stop!

What is the one thing that has helped you the most in your career?

Having a medical background has hands down helped the most with my career with Ornge.   With experience working in a hospital for six years and my education as a nurse, I am more at ease and understand medical situations better.  After 10 years with Ornge, I can take a booking asking questions from memory if I need to.  I even have dreams I’m booking calls!!

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of this job is knowing I helped someone in a medical crisis get to where they need to be in a timely manner, with positive outcomes.  Usually, we don’t find out what happens to patients once our medics hand over patient care, so when we do get some kind of update, it’s nice to know they are ok.

In your opinion, why is Ornge important to Ontario’s healthcare system?

Ornge is vitally important to Ontario’s healthcare system for many reasons. Ornge helps residents of Ontario get the medical care they need within this vast province.  Before working with Ornge I wasn’t familiar with any cities further North than Thunder Bay, Ontario.  Now, I understand many places are isolated Northern communities much farther than that.  In the North, Ornge helps those residents get the basic medical treatments they need, or specialty care for more complex cases.  In the Southern parts of the province, having Critical Care land resources as well as helicopters allows for some of the best advanced medical care in more severe/complex situations.  Ornge paramedics are some of the most amazing individuals I have ever met.  The training and knowledge they have is incredible.  The Ornge physicians are also impressive being some of the top ER physicians or paediatric physicians in the province (if not Canada!!).

How does Ornge respond to system and community need?

Ornge is always updating policies and education to meet the needs of the province at the time.  During the pandemic, Ornge had a special operations center just for COVID transfers.  Extra land resources/medics assisted with the increased transfer volume to help the overcrowded ICUs throughout Southern Ontario.  In addition to our standard scene and interfacility transfers, Ornge is a part of evacuation efforts to medical facilities in Northern areas due to flooding and fires each year.  Ornge assists transports with the paediatric/NICU team and offers support for the Trillium Gift of Life to transport organs and tissues.  Ornge is always striving to improve themselves with up-to-date training, equipment and staff.  I couldn’t be prouder of the fact that I work for such a wonderful organization.

• Inside Ornge