Waterloo Region – Starting December 4, 2025, calls for Paramedic Services in Waterloo Region will be triaged and dispatched using a new Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS). This new system, already implemented by the Ministry of Health in many municipalities across Ontario, is designed to ensure paramedics are dispatched more quickly to urgent, life-threatening emergencies, improving response times and patient outcomes. 

MPDS is a software-based system used by Ambulance Communications Officers to triage 911 calls based on the severity of the medical condition. The system is backed by decades of medical research and evidence, helping dispatchers make informed decisions. 

While patients with non-life-threatening conditions may experience longer wait times when paramedic resources are in high demand, dispatchers will remain in contact to monitor their condition and ensure they can safely wait for care. The goal is to ensure paramedic resources are directed to the most critical emergencies first.  

The implementation follows months of planning, training and coordination with the Ministry of Health, the Cambridge Central Ambulance Communications Centre, and emergency response partners.  

The MPDS rollout on December 4, 2025 includes the Region of Waterloo, Dufferin County, County of Wellington and City of Guelph. The Ministry of Health has already introduced MPDS to many Central Ambulance Communications Centres including Ottawa, Mississauga, Kenora, Thunder Bay, Renfrew, Georgian, Kingston, Oshawa and other municipalities, with plans to expand the system’s usage province wide. 

“The implementation of the Medical Priority Dispatch System will equip our Paramedic Services to continue to modernize the exceptional care they provide to our community, day in and day out,” said Regional Chair Karen Redman. 

“This is a major step forward in how we deliver critical pre-hospital emergency care in Waterloo Region. The Medical Priority Dispatch System helps ensure that when seconds count, our paramedics can provide the right care at the right time and help ensure resources are available for the most urgent calls.” said John Riches, Chief of Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services. 

For more information about the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS), please visit www.engagewr.ca/mpds 

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