Introducing Robbie Lougheed, an Advanced Care Paramedic and Paramedic Safety and Investigation Coordinator working at Ornge’s Timmins base. Robbie has been with Ornge for nearly 17 years and spoke with us about his journey to the organization and his experience in his positions during his time here.

Can you start by introducing yourself and your position here at Ornge?

My name is Robbie Lougheed, and I work at Ornge’s Timmins 796 base. I work as an Advanced Care Flight Paramedic (ACP) for half of my time and the other half I spend as a Paramedic Safety and Investigation Coordinator. 

Can you describe your professional and/or academic background?

I did my EMCA certification in Sudbury then moved to Moosonee to work as a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) with the land service and part-time on the helicopter. From there I moved to Timmins where I got my ACP(f) certification with Ornge.

What do you do in Paramedicine Safety Investigations?

I primarily deal with medication-related incidents and equipment failures. I have been recording those incidents to learn from them and develop strategies to mitigate them. We constantly put out “Medical Quick Turns” which are small memos delivered to frontline staff so they can remain informed.

Can you describe the difference between an ACP vs PCP/CCP?

They’re all different levels of care. Primary care is the lowest level of care but safely and efficiently transport many patients daily within most local land services. Their scope continues to grow in what they can do. The big difference between ACP and PCP is the difference in medications we administer and the use of a ventilator. CCP scope of practice is an even higher level of care where pretty much any medication, drug, or equipment can be used in the transport of patients.  Their scope also differs in high risk pregnancy patients.

Why did you choose to join Ornge?

When I worked in Moosonee, the land service staffed the helicopter that was there at the time. But over time the companies changed, and the contracts changed, so I carried on working part-time because I enjoyed working both land and air part-time.

What motivates you to continue working at Ornge?

We make a big difference and big impact on people in Ontario. I’m from the north, I grew up in the north, and I have been here for a long time. There is a need for Ornge in the north. I feel that my position helps the vision of health equity, and I appreciate that for the people of the communities that we serve. From the paramedicine safety side, I think with promoting just culture and continuing to make forward changes of our system and our design to make things safer for our patients and our staff – it is very motivating. 

What are the biggest changes you’ve witnessed during your 16 years at Ornge?

The biggest change that I’ve witnessed is the scope of practice becoming greater in the ACP and CCP level. The equipment has changed; there is fantastic equipment now. We went from the CV4 and the LTV1200 and now we introduced the Hamilton T1 which is a big change.

Another change is the promotion of a “Just Culture” here at Ornge. When I first started, there wasn’t a Just Culture anywhere in EMS, but now with this culture we can learn from our mistakes and help improve the service that we deliver.

You are stationed in a northern base which is a long way away from the majority of Ontario’s population. Can you describe how we handle the challenge of time and distance in our operations?

Working in the north, we have become the link to many northern communities for health care. It is very difficult for them to get appropriate diagnostics and even some surgical interventions that need a higher level of care. I think the fixed-wing fleet in the north really helps mitigate those challenges for the people in the north. Ornge provides a link for people to get healthcare in those communities that have limited access to healthcare.

You had a presentation at the All-Canada Aeromedical Transport (ACAT) Safety Conference in 2023, how was that experience?

The ACAT conference is great, there’s a lot of useful information there. I feel that the presentation made people in the paramedicine field aware of the medicine incidents that occur in the field. It made the other companies at the conference realize that we are trying our best to track medication incidents and mitigate these from occurring. We have a very low percentage of incidents overall, but if we can minimize even one error it is extremely important. Presenting wasn’t my forte at first, but my team helped me to relax and made it feel natural.

• Inside Ornge