Emergency Health and Paramedicine Services

Overview

The provincial ambulance program provides emergency and routine medical transportation to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and responds to 85,000 requests for service every year. To meet the emergency care needs of the province, Newfoundland and Labrador uses a blended public/private ambulance system. This includes 60 ambulance services operating 171 ambulances as well as several types of dedicated air ambulance aircraft. The program employs over 850 paramedics and emergency medical responders. Funding is provided by government to the four Regional Health Authorities to deliver the provincial road and air ambulance program.

Road Ambulance Program

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The road ambulance program is a critical component of the health care system and is often the first point of contact for people in an emergency situation. Our highly trained paramedics deliver emergency medical services while transporting the patient to the most appropriate hospital for further treatment.

While the primary mission of the ambulance program is to respond to patients in emergency situations, ambulances are also used to transport routine patients requiring ongoing medical attention during transport who are unable to be transported by alternate means.

The Department of Health and Community Services is responsible for the provincial policies, procedures, and standards governing the delivery of road ambulance services. The four Regional Health Authorities are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the road ambulance program.

HOW TO ACCESS EMERGENCY SERVICE

911 emergency telephone service is available province wide. There are two 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) that answer 911 calls – one is located in Corner Brook and the other one is in St. John’s. 911 call takers will ask for the type of emergency being reported, the town or area of the emergency and the caller’s phone number. The caller is then transferred to the emergency service provider responsible for that area, who will dispatch the required assistance. Depending on the type of emergency being reported, the 911 call takers may notify other emergency service agencies as needed.

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ROAD AMBULANCE PATIENT FEES

The bulk of the cost a road ambulance trip is covered under the Medical Care Plan (MCP) in Newfoundland and Labrador. Residents who require a response by a road ambulance within this province must pay a patient fee of $115. Please note patient fees are charged for ambulance response and not necessarily for patient transport. If a patient requests medical assistance by road ambulance personnel and  then refuses transportation or is deemed not to require road ambulance transport by medical authorities, the $115 patient fee is still charged. Some people in receipt of Income Support may have their patient fee paid through the Department of Immigration, Skills and Labor.

If a provincial resident requires an ambulance due to illness or injury while outside the province, the provincial resident will be charged for the transport at a rate established by the jurisdiction in which the transport occurred. This cost is not covered by the Medical Care Plan. Residents are advised to obtain insurance prior to travelling to protect them from potential costs should they require an ambulance while out of province. [More information on Out of Province MCP coverage is available here: Out of Province Coverage – Health and Community Services (gov.nl.ca) ]

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Air Ambulance Program

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

An emergency air ambulance program has been in place in this province since the early 1950s. At that time single engine floatplanes were used to transport emergency patients to the appropriate medical facility. Today highly trained critical care paramedics and registered nurses provide transportation to individuals requiring critical care between medical facilities as well as for non-emergent patients when a road ambulance or commercial flight is unsuitable. The program uses two King Air 350s and supplementary contracted aircraft that provide dedicated air ambulance service to the entire province. Also, contracted helicopters are used for on scene responses to remote areas that are not accessible by airplane.

The majority of transports occur within the province however, out of province patient transports may occur if the required medical services are not available in Newfoundland and Labrador and the patient is unable to travel by commercial flight.

HOW TO ACCESS SERVICE

The sending medical facility will request an air ambulance to transport a patient between hospitals when required. The Air Ambulance Coordinator located at the Medical Communication Centre in St. John’s screens the request to ensure that the patient’s needs meet the air ambulance criteria.

AIR AMBULANCE USER FEES

Provincial Residents

The entire cost associated with an air ambulance transport is subsidized under the medical care plan in this province. Additionally, the patient fees for the use of a road ambulance to and from the airport is covered by the Department of Health and Community Service.

Non-Residents

Non-residents are charged on a cost recovery basis for an air ambulance transport, including the costs associated with aircraft, medical escorts and the road ambulance to and from the airport.

Provincial Residents Temporarily Outside of the Province

If a provincial resident requires an air ambulance while outside the province, they will be charged for the transport at a rate set by the jurisdiction in which the transport occurred. [More information on Out of Province MCP coverage is available here: Out of Province Coverage – Health and Community Services (gov.nl.ca) ]

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Training Information – Becoming a Paramedic

Paramedic training is available in Newfoundland and Labrador from the following training providers. Please contact the training institution directly with any questions you may have about training to become a paramedic.

College of the North Atlantic

CNA offers paramedic training from two separate campuses, Bay St. George campus in Stephenville and Prince Phillip Drive Campus in St. John’s. CNA offers both Primary Care Paramedic training (Entry level of paramedic training) and Advanced Care Paramedic training (Advanced level of paramedic training). Completion of a primary care paramedic program is a pre-requisite to advanced care training.

Website:

Phone Number:1-888-982-2268

Keyin Tech

Keyin Tech offers Primary Care Paramedic training from their Grand Falls – Windsor campus.

Website:

Phone: 1 (800) 563 8989

Random Sound Paramedicine

Random Sound Paramedicine offers Primary Care Paramedic training from their Clarenville Campus.

Website:

Phone:1 (709) 466 7633

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Newfoundland and Labrador Paramedicine Regulator – Obtaining a Paramedic License

All emergency medical responders and paramedics working in Newfoundland and Labrador are required to obtain a Paramedicine provider license from NLPR. For information on becoming a licensed paramedic in Newfoundland and Labrador, available license streams, and entry to practice or renewal requirements, please visit : Newfoundland and Labrador Paramedicine Regulator

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Office of the Provincial Medical Director – Obtaining Medical Authority

All emergency medical responders and paramedics working within the publicly funded ambulance program, either road ambulance or air ambulance, are required to obtain medical authority from the Office of the Provincial Medical Director. This authority provides paramedics with the ability to perform controlled medical acts while working within the public ambulance program. For more information on obtaining medical authority privileges including the application process, testing requirements and renewal requirements, please visit: Office of the Provincial Medical Director

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