CritiCall Ontario and Ornge received approval from the Ministry of Health to voluntarily integrate in December, 2024 following a joint proposal. CritiCall Ontario will officially transfer from Hamilton Health Sciences to Ornge on November 1, 2025.

Ornge, Ontario’s provider of air ambulance and critical care transport services, is pleased to announce the integration of CritiCall Ontario. CritiCall Ontario is a key support for Ontario hospitals and facilitates consultations and referrals for emergent and critically ill patients. CritiCall Ontario and Ornge received approval from the Ministry of Health to voluntarily integrate in December, 2024 following a joint proposal. CritiCall Ontario will officially transfer from Hamilton Health Sciences to Ornge on November 1, 2025.

There will be no changes to service, processes or procedures for clinicians requiring CritiCall Ontario or Ornge services at this time. As of November 1, 2025, Ornge will assume the administrative functions for CritiCall Ontario from Hamilton Health Sciences including oversight, finance, information technology, human resources and payroll.

“We feel strongly that officially combining our organizations’ respective expertise will bring further benefit to Ontario’s health system”, says Dr. Homer Tien, President and CEO of Ornge. “We look forward to optimizing triage and referral destinations, improving support for smaller hospitals, and enhancing digital services such as virtual care.”

CritiCall Ontario and Ornge have long worked together to ensure critically ill patients in Ontario receive the care they need as quickly, safely, and smoothly as possible. Together, Ornge and CritiCall Ontario have elevated the value and service we provide to the many patients and partners who rely on us through the “One Number to Call” initiative, data sharing projects, and collaboration and co-navigation of the many system capacity challenges presented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is an exciting time for clinicians and patients across the province of Ontario”, says Isabel Hayward, Executive Director of CritiCall Ontario. “Ornge and CritiCall share a vision based on our mutual goal of improving outcomes for patients who are critically ill or injured. By working more closely together as one team we will be better positioned to support the needs of those who rely on our services.”

CritiCall Ontario has long been a key part of Ontario’s emergency health system under Hamilton Health Sciences. Now transitioning to Ornge, it will continue its vital role - enhancing coordination and strengthening emergency response across the province.

If you have any questions or comments, please share by e-mail to integration@ornge.ca.
 
 

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