Medical Priority Dispatch System - Issue Report

Report To:                             Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board

From:                                        Robert Smith, Chief of Paramedic Services
                                                      Travis Dear, Deputy Chief

Date:                                         April 16, 2026

Re:                                              Medical Priority Dispatch System - Issue Report

Strategic Plan Goal:       2. Transform How We Work
Objective:                              2.2 Modernize our tools, systems, processes and spaces to increase efficiency and enhance the experience of individuals

EXECTUTIVE SUMMARY

On May 20, 2026, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has directed Sudbury Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC) to implement the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS). This new model will change the method for how 9-1-1 emergency medical calls and interfacility transport requests are triaged, prioritized, and assigned for Paramedic Services response across the Manitoulin and Sudbury Districts. The implementation of MPDS is expected to impact Manitoulin-Sudbury DBS Paramedic Services as follows:

• There will be changes in call categorization and determinant prioritization, 
• Likely changes in response patterns and Paramedic resource utilization,
• Increased demand for Paramedic Services monitoring of call acuity assignment and response performance,
• Potential for temporary service disruptions or inconsistency during the transition period immediately following implementation.

Staff will be working diligently and proactively to ensure that risks associated with the implementation of MPDS will be dealt with promptly and appropriately as this new dispatch system is rolled out across our geography. 

BACKGROUND

The Ministry of Health is responsible for the provision of 9-1-1 call taking and dispatching. This role predates any municipal responsibility for provision of paramedic services. The Ministry of Health dispatching process has gone through evolution over many years and in the mid-2010s, the province purchased the Medical Priority Dispatch System. The staged rollout into each of the 22 centres began with Mississauga in late 2022. In 2024, the rollout was expanded into some communities across Northern Ontario. The MPDS model is currently in use with the CACCs in Ottawa, Niagara, Toronto, Mississauga, Simcoe, Kenora, Thunder Bay, Ottawa, Renfrew, Georgian, Kingston, Oshawa, Lindsay, Hamilton, Timmins, Sault Sainte Marie and Cambridge. 

CURRENT AND NEXT STEPS

Currently Sudbury CACC operates under DPCI II which is primarily a dispatch priority coding system used to categorize ambulance calls and assign response urgency in the form of call Priority (Code 1, 2, 3, or 4). MPDS implementation at Sudbury CACC on May 20, 2026, ambulance dispatching for the Manitoulin-Sudbury District will transition to a new framework for medical call assessment and prioritization.  MPDS will assign paramedic services resources utilizing a colour-based assignment with Red and Purple calls being the most significant, followed by Orange, Yellow and Green.  

RISK

The implementation of MPDS at Sudbury CACC on May 20, 2026 represents a significant and positive change to the communications and dispatch environment supporting Manitoulin-Sudbury Paramedic Services. As with any major dispatch system change, there is risk during implementation. Risks include delayed assignment to lower acuity calls, over-prioritization/under-prioritization by the CACC, and learning curve challenges while call takers and dispatchers adapt to the new process. 

Accordingly, Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB staff have been working diligently to ensure appropriate preparedness measures are in place. This includes proactive communication with the MOH, Sudbury CACC and partner agencies, as well as internal staff training programs, which are currently underway. Manitoulin-Sudbury Staff will actively liaise with Sudbury CACC during rollout to identify and resolve concerns and challenges attributable to the MPDS transition. Early identification of these issues will support timely mitigation and help ensure that Paramedic Service resources continue to be deployed safely and efficiently. 

CONCLUSION

The rollout of MPDS for Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB Paramedic Services by the MOH will alter how calls are queued and how resources are assigned to 9-1-1 calls. This system was designed to result in positive changes for frontline deployment, inter-facility coverage pressures, and the overall system’s ability to maintain balanced emergency response coverage and provide high quality services to the communities of Manitoulin-Sudbury Districts.