Well, this could be interesting.
Last week at Orillia City Hall, sparks flew when the Orillia Fire Department asked for permission to extend its “medical oversight agreement” with Dr. Michael Boucher.
Essentially, that pact ensures local firefighters are properly trained and ready to administer Naloxone and Epinephrine, Nitro Spray, Ventolin and Aspirin (ASA) to those in need. The program is in response to the opioid crisis and the spate of overdoses caused by the drug.
Council committee heard last week that the program had, in essence, saved nine lives; it was a “good news” story, said Assistant Fire Chief Brent Thomas.
But Mayor Steve Clarke wanted to delay the decision to renew the deal, noting the County of Simcoe was moving forward with its program and had information to share about their approach. Twice, he failed to get council’s support to delay or defer renewal in a debate that grew heated.
Thomas and Orillia Fire Chief Ralph Dominelli stressed Orillia’s program is tailored to Orillia and suggested the county’s one-size-fits-all approach would not be as effective.
In the end, council committee agreed to renew the deal. That decision must be ratified Monday night. However, that may not be the rubber stamp it normally is.
Three of the high-ranking county officials behind their medical oversight program will be on hand to provide an update.
Jane Sinclair, General Manager, Andrew Robert, Chief Paramedic Services and Dr. Michael Feldman, County of Simcoe will be present to discuss medical oversight and training to the Orillia Fire Department to address the opioid crisis
“The County of Simcoe Paramedic Services wishes to provide information to correct several inaccuracies that were contained in (report to council committee) presented on June 18,” notes a deputation request from Andrew Robert, director and chief, County of Simcoe Paramedic Services. “These inaccuracies potentially influenced the decision-making process of council and could also impact the decision-making process of other entities and must be corrected for the record.”
Robert’s deputation will outline the county’s ‘Quality of Care’ (QCP) program and notes their “paramedic services is the provincially legislated provider of prehospital medicine for this region, including the cities of Barrie and Orillia.” He said they are “committed to timely, clinically sophisticated emergency response and community strategies that preserve life, improve health and promote safety.”
He noted there are no direct costs to Orillia. “All costs (are) funded by the county budget,” says the report.
The report also is meant to correct what the county calls inaccuracies presented last week.
“The report has characterized the QCP as a trial – this is not the case,” says the county submission.
In addition, last week’s report to council references a requirement for 35 hours of training for Orillia staff. “The program core training is 14 hours with five additional hours additional if two medications (are) desired.”
Orillia firefighters also noted their own program allowed for training to occur while firefighters are on-duty, a bid advantage to the busy fire hall.
The county rebuttal says “training can be provided to (Orillia) staff while on duty on variable days and hours and in between runs, therefore (there is) no cost to Orillia Fire Service,” says the county report.
In addition, the county “is open to the use of in-house fire instructors though we believe there is significant benefit from paramedics providing the training. No existing client services have asked for this yet and in fact have indicated that training by paramedics was preferred due to higher knowledge of subject matter and relationship building.”
Robert also says training can be delivered by the end of July and would “not represent a reduction in the department’s current level of service.”
