MLPS 5 Year Master Plan

MLPS is seeking to potentially retain a qualified consultant to prepare a 5-year Master Plan and Summary of such Plan for MLPS, which will serve as an informative tool to assist decision-makers in considering and address emerging issues and future opportunities.
The ultimate 5-year Master Plan will need to:
 

1. Comprehensively assess the capabilities of the Paramedic Service relative to the
ambulance service needs of MLPS for the next 5 years (2022-2027).
 

2. Inform service planning that will ensure that MLPS’s long-term capability to provide the
right Paramedic care at the right place and time.
 

3. Provide a forward-going systematic approach for the provision of high quality Paramedic
Services:
• that are appropriate to the needs of the for the next 5 years
• that are delivered promptly, effectively and efficiently with optimum numbers of
personnel, facilities, equipment, and funding; and
• that align with industry leading best practices and standards, and with provincial
legislation and regulations for Ontario land ambulance operations; and
 

4. Serve as a strategic blueprint/objective basis for MLPS deliberations in respect to the
future needs of paramedic services and budget planning.
Without limiting the above, the 5-Year Master Plan will need to address the following particular subjects and objectives:

Ambulance Call Volumes
• annualized call volume forecasts forecasts for each year 2022-2027 factoring in but not limited to Operational impact of County and City growth, demographics, geographical factors and social, economic and tourism
• as it relates to call volumes, consider future opportunities to provide services in a non-traditional approach addressing the demand on resources through alternate response and alternate provision of paramedic care shall be incorporated into the plan
Response Time Performance
• recommendations on a variety of response time performance targets as outcomes for the current and future system design
• analysis of industry practices and/or evidence-based practices regarding response time standards and provide recommendations on reasonable response time standards for MLPS that balance efficiency, service quality, affordability and promote positive patient outcomes.
• considerations for clinically focused Key Performance Indicators (“KPI”).
 

Resource Requirements
• calculation of the number of ambulances, paramedics and support staff required to achieve the targeted response time options and clinical “KPI” outcomes as identified
• recommendation of a staffing model, inclusive of support-level staff that meets the operational requirements of the current and future system
• evaluation of the current support structure and recommendations concerning workload of staff and time on tasks
• consideration to issues such as risk management, quality assurance, continuous quality improvement and performance efficiencies as they relate to support resources
• analysis and recommendations on the role of frontline Field Supervisors/Superintendents and their ability to conduct administrative duties as well as being an active member of the on-road service team
• forecasting of vehicle requirements, infrastructure requirements, staffing requirements, and future capital and operating costs
• analysis of the use of Advanced Care Paramedic versus Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) with enhanced skills (i.e. IV therapy, advanced airways, etc.) as it relates to clinical outcomes
• provide recommendation related to a land ambulance Deployment Plan to maximize resources for response time performance
• consideration of the operational impact of County and City of London growth, demographics, geographical factors and social, economic and tourism factors.
 

Facilities Model
• review of the current facilities in addition to other industry considerations and practices as
related to other Paramedic Services facility models
• recommendations regarding potential efficiencies, innovations, and/or
design consideration that support service and performance
• consideration of the future growth of the system and any subsequent resource requirements as
they relate to facility modeling for a period of 5 years from 2022-2027.
• include an analysis of alternate deployment models and financial impact of each on
the Paramedic Service.
 

Broader Service Considerations
• review the delivery of paramedic services within the current context of other health care planning activities, including but not limited to Ontario Health, area hospitals, with other emergency services (police and fire) within the County and City of London, including Local Area Municipalities, and provide recommendations on potential opportunities to achieve further efficiencies and service improvements based on research, observation, proven industry experiences and leading practices in other jurisdictions
• review and analyze ‘best practices’ in ambulance services in comparable municipalities, including but not limited to staff deployment, response initiatives, mutual aid agreements, tiered response, local relationship building initiatives, community paramedicine, fleet management, hospital offload mitigation, rapid response strategies (rural versus urban), dispatch modernization with examination of consolidation benefits and cost savings, and other initiatives.