Paramedics at Sault Area Hospital (SAH) are efficiently managing patient offloading, outpacing many other emergency services in Ontario, as per a recent report. To address ambulance offload delays and enhance emergency response times, the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) has collaborated with the hospital. Delays occur when paramedics must wait at the hospital until patients can be safely transferred to the emergency department, preventing ambulances from responding to other urgent situations in the area.
Stephanie Pagnucco, DSSAB Board Chair, highlighted past challenges where all ambulances could have been occupied at the hospital during critical incidents, underscoring the need for change. To tackle this issue, SAH and Sault Paramedics engaged with Optimus SBR, an independent consulting firm, earlier this year to assess offload practices and identify enhancements.
By November 2025, ambulance offloading at its peak performance level to date, with only nine patients experiencing delays exceeding 30 minutes compared to 228 in November 2024. The average offload time decreased from 36 minutes to just over 10 minutes, and the 90th percentile offload time improved to 14 minutes, surpassing provincial benchmarks significantly.
Pagnucco emphasized the gradual progress achieved through the introduction of a triage nurse, close collaboration with the hospital, and efficient resource management. Plans are in place to sustain these improvements, with ongoing implementation of recommendations from Optimus SBR.
Despite the notable advancements, Pagnucco remains committed to further enhancements and maintaining the current momentum, aiming to uphold a high standard of service delivery without complacency.
