Paramedic Services

About us

The Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services serves a population of approximately 568,500 and a geographic area of 1,369 square kilometre in the Waterloo Region.Paramedic Services operates a fleet of 37 vehicles including:

• 30 Ambulances

• 1 Special Purpose Bariatric Ambulance

• 4 Emergency Response Units

• 3 Supervisor Vehicles

• 2 Administrative Vehicles
• 2 Logistics and Support Vehicles

• 3 Multi-casualty Incident Trailers 

Staffing levels

The current staffing levels for each classification employed by Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services are as follows:

Primary Care Paramedic

Full Time: 80

Part Time: 56

Total: 136

Advanced Care Paramedic

Full Time: 52

Part Time: 5

Total: 57 

Paramedic services stations

• 120 Maple Grove Road, Cambridge
• 501 Scott Street, Ayr
• 91 St. Andrews Street, Cambridge
• 465 Pinebush Road, Cambridge
• 100 Water Street, Kitchener
• 299 Doon Valley, Kitchener
• 1035 Ottawa Street, Kitchener
• 1700 Queens Blvd, Kitchener
• 1991 Nafziger Road, Philipsburg
• 30 Parkside Drive, St. Jacobs
• 90 Westmount Road, Waterloo

Mobilization time

Crews located at stations have a target mobilization time of less than one minute for all Code 4 (Emergency) calls and less than two minutes for all Code 3 (Prompt) and Code 8 (Standby) calls.

To view the Region of Waterloo Paramedic Response Time from previous years, please visit Response Time Performances

Protecting your privacy

Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services collects only as much personal health information as needed to deliver our services. Internal policies provide direction to staff on how we handle and protect your personal health information.

For more information, please visit the Information Practices Statement.

Check the Health Reports page to find information about our response time performance.

Patients

To request a records release report, the patient must fill out a Request to Access Personal Health Record form and send it by mail or drop it off to 120 Maple Grove Road, Cambridge, Ontario N3H 4R4.

This service is free for patients requesting their own information.

Law firms or insurance companies

Law firms or insurance companies are required to provide send us:

• A letter on company letterhead with the information below:
  • Name of the patient
  • Patient's date of birth
  • Date, time and location of the incident
  • Name of the hospital where the patient was taken (if applicable)
  • Law Firm file number
  • Any other details that may be relevant
• A signed Request to Access Personal Health Record form
• A cheque for $105.37 (includes HST) made out to "Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services" for each form

Please note if the Region cannot find a report, the cheque will be returned to you.

You can request ambulance dispatch records from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care by calling 416-327-7040.

For current openings, check the Job Opportunities section.

To learn about available careers in Paramedic Services, check the following links:

Choose a Career in Paramedic Services - Paramedic

Choose a Career in Paramedic Services - Fleet Support

Recruitment Process - Spring 2019

Below is a general guideline of the recruitment process that will be followed for Spring 2019. Communication with candidates throughout the recruitment process will be done electronically.

Job posting

A job posting will be available November 7-23, 2018 on the Region of Waterloo website. In order to be considered, an online application must be submitted by the applicant outlining their knowledge, skills, abilities and qualifications in relation to the job posting.

Written exam

Selected candidates will be invited to participate in the written exam on January 5, 2019. The written exam will consist of multiple choice questions based on all applicable Provincial legislation, BLS Patient Care Standards, Provincial Base Hospital Medical Directives and National Occupational Competencies, Regional philosophies and demographics. A non-negotiable exam time will be assigned to each candidate.

Please refer to the Required Documentation Timelines document to ensure you bring the proper documents to the written exam. If you do not bring the required documents, you will forfeit your application.

Interview

Candidates who are successful in the written exam will be invited to participate in the interview and practical testing process. A non-negotiable date and time will be assigned to each candidate.

Please refer to the Required Documentation Timelines document to ensure you bring the proper documents to the interview process.

Documentation deadline

Candidates are required to submit all documentation by March 1, 2019. Please find here a list of Required Documentation Timelines that must be completed and submitted.

NOTE: If you do not submit ALL required documentation by March 1, you will be removed from the selection process.

Physical testing

Physical testing will be held by an external vendor and will take place in Waterloo. Specific details will be included in the email to successful candidates.

Driver testing

Candidates who are successful in the practical testing and who have passed the Region's Driver's Abstract process will be invited to schedule a driver test and select a non-negotiable date and time for driver testing from March 11-13, 2019.

References

Reference checks will be conducted for all candidates who are eligible for the driver testing beginning the week of March 4, 2019. Candidates must provide three references of people who have directly supervised them, including:

• One clinical reference including a supervisor (if working as a paramedic) or a preceptor (if currently a student)
• Other supervisors who have directly supervised their work
• Candidates are asked to include any references from direct supervisors in the human services, patient transfer, military reserve, lifeguard, etc. fields (if applicable)

Character references will not be accepted.

Job offers

Job offers (conditional) will be made electronically the week of April 23, 2019.

Base hospital certification

Candidates will be invited to participate in base hospital certification the week of April 10, 2019.

Start/Orientation

All candidates who have accepted job offers will participate in a three-week orientation.

Related documents

Police Record Check Information for Employment Applicants  

Required Documentation Timelines

Frequently Asked Questions for Applicants

Community Paramedicine 

At this time we are not accepting community or physician referrals into the program.

What is Community Paramedicine?

The program is a non-emergency service aimed to increase access to health and community services that would better support the individual while redirecting away from the hospital and emergency room.

The program includes scheduled checkups, health assessments and in-home safety assessments. Once an individual’s needs are determined, the community paramedic will connect them to appropriate services in the community.

How will Community Paramedicine benefit you?

The program will help connect individuals to health and community services and prevent unnecessary 911 calls and emergency department visits while supporting people in their homes or in the community.

Who is Community Paramedicine for?

The program is designed to assist people living with chronic illness or ongoing heath needs who have little support or have experienced difficulty accessing healthcare within the Region of Waterloo. People with complicated medical issues or other health problems may receive other special programming.

What is a Community Paramedic?

Community Paramedics are certified paramedics who receive additional education, training and clinical experience in the field of community health to meet the healthcare needs of people living in the Region. Community paramedics do not transport people to hospital, but instead visit people in their homes in non emergency situations.

What to expect when a community paramedic arrives at the home?

Community paramedics will do a complete health and home safety assessment to determine individual needs. The paramedic and other health care providers will then connect the individual with community services and assist them in navigating the health care system.