Paramedics at the Sault Area Hospital (SAH) are efficiently unloading patients and returning to service quicker than the majority of emergency services in Ontario, as per a recent report. The District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) has collaborated with the hospital to minimize ambulance offloading delays and boost emergency response times to maintain ambulance availability.
Delays occur when paramedics must stay at the hospital until patients can be safely transferred to the emergency department staff. Extended delays hinder ambulances from responding to other emergencies in the Sault region.
Stephanie Pagnucco, DSSAB Board Chair, highlighted past challenges where all ambulances could have been tied up at the hospital, impacting emergency response during major incidents. To address this issue, SAH and Sault Paramedics partnered with Optimus SBR, an independent consulting firm, earlier this year to enhance offloading practices.
By November 2025, ambulance offloading at its highest level to date was achieved. The number of patients experiencing delays over 30 minutes significantly decreased compared to the previous year. The average offload time reduced from 36 minutes to slightly over 10 minutes, with the 90th percentile offload time now at 14 minutes, surpassing provincial standards.
Pagnucco emphasized the collaborative efforts with the hospital and the continuous implementation of recommendations from Optimus SBR to sustain progress. While acknowledging the substantial improvements, she remains committed to maintaining the momentum and further enhancing offload efficiency.