For immediate release
Oct. 23, 2025
Paramedic Master Plan Received for Consideration: Lanark County Council has received the “Ten-Year Paramedic Human Resources and Facilities Master Plan” and directed staff to bring the recommendations from the report to a future corporate services committee meeting for discussion.
Senior Consultant Hannah Mayes-Frenett explained Operational Research in Health (ORH) looked at the data for the paramedic service, analysed it to understand operations, used predictive modelling for the future and conducted consultation to learn more about the Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS). The objective is to help to address call volume projections and determine an optimal number and location of facilities, vehicle requirements to meet response time standards and staffing model recommendations (including support staff).
ORH analysed data from 2020 to 2024 and found an annual increase in incidents of about 5.5 per cent per year and an average call time (from vehicle enroute to cleared) to be just over an hour, with time at the hospital the greatest contributor to this.
Mayes-Frenett said information from site visits, interviews and documentation review found staff were complimentary about the LCPS and the county, but a theme emerged about an inability to be truly proactive rather than reactive, relating to staffing, physical capacity issues, funding constraints for the Community Paramedicine Program and technological inefficiencies.
She explained ORH’s modelling software simulates the entire life cycle of emergency incidents, using historical data and a baseline for 2025. They projected demand over the next 10 years, including population and aging and found the number of incidents per day is expected to increase from 31 in 2024 to 49 in 2035. The projections were used to determine what resources would be needed to offset the demand, including increasing vehicle hours, additional paramedics and relocation of two bases to improve capacity for ambulances. The report also addresses some alternative scenarios and makes recommendations around additional support services. ORH has provided a phased plan for consideration. For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1101.
Update on Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital Received: Lanark County Council received an update from Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital (PSFDH) President and CEO Michael Cohen on the core capital campaign and the hospital.
Cohen explained this year’s key strategic plan activities focus on improving best practices and care delivery and efficiency in their operating rooms, along with a renewed focus on engaging patients to improve care. This involves improving throughput in operating rooms, launching a new Nursing Model of Care, enhancing patient engagement and experience, and beginning to advance the hospital redevelopment project.
He noted patient occupancy rates are more than 100 per cent in the hospital due to high volumes and a large number of patients waiting for long-term care beds. Recruitment and retention continue to be areas of focus and have seen success with full-time positions, but there are still challenges with filling temporary positions. There is also a new resuscitation area at the Smiths Falls site and the third-floor nursing station renovation at the Perth site is nearing completion. There is also new funding to increase MRI hours. Cohen noted the hospital had a good year financially, with additional funding received.
Cohen outlined the three stages for hospital redevelopment planning: early planning, detailed planning and construction. PSFDH is in the early planning stage, with a pre-capital submission completed in February 2023 to outline general intent and high-level parameters and cost. Cohen said they will be starting the master plan component of this stage next year, which includes community engagement and involves outlining future demand, state of existing facilities, analysis of options, general project costs and schedule and other details to outline high-level space requirements. Cohen said it could be at least six to eight years before there is a new site.
As part of the core capital campaign, Cohen said the new electronic patient record system was implemented last December and commended staff for its smooth implementation. Cohen thanked council for its continued support for “safe and high-quality patient care at our hospital.” The hospital is seeking support from the county to renew its $169,500 commitment in support of next year’s campaign, and to expand the scope to support the redevelopment project and clinical capital replacement. For more information, contact Jasmin Ralph, Clerk, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.
Upcoming Meetings: County Council, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 5 p.m.; Community Services, Nov. 12 (following County Council); Corporate Services, Nov. 12 (following Community Services). Special Corporate Services (Budget), Nov. 21 9 am. Inaugural Meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2 p.m. County Council, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 5 p.m.; Public Works, Nov. 26 (following County Council); Economic Development, Nov. 26 (following Public Works). Watch for details about public access to meetings on agendas and through online notifications. For more information, contact 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502. Like "LanarkCounty1" on Facebook and follow "@LanarkCounty1" on Instagram!