Building the new Ornge team

Experienced leaders join Ontario's air ambulance program

MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Ornge is pleased to provide a frontline staffing update and to announce the addition of three new well-respected executives from health care, aviation and finance to the Ornge team:

Bruce Farr - Special Advisor, Operations
Bruce has a long history working with Toronto Emergency Medical Services (EMS). He started as an ambulance driver in Scarborough, moved into the training division and was eventually promoted to the position of Chief, a position he held before retiring in 2011 after 39 years in EMS.  His experience providing strategic direction, operational planning and leadership will prove indispensable to our Operations team.

Robert Giguere - Special Advisor, Aviation
Rob has a long history in aviation. After working as a pilot, he moved on to senior executive positions first with Air Canada and then Skyservice Airlines. He then became an independent aviation consultant, where he gained the respect of the aviation community.

Wayne Howard - Vice President, Finance
With over 30 years in finance across the private and broader public sectors, Wayne has a strong history in providing strategic leadership in policies and standards, financial leadership, risk management and operational reviews.

"These individuals bring decades of experience to Ornge," said Ron McKerlie, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, at Ornge.  "Their expertise will be invaluable in addressing the day-to-day challenges of providing this essential service, providing leadership to our staff, and planning for the future."

ORNGE FRONTLINE STAFF

Ornge continues to add to its frontline staff team to ensure the best possible patient care.  There is now a team of 217 paramedics at Ornge.   That's 10 more paramedics than at this time last year. 

Ornge currently has 38 airplane pilots, and seven more will be coming on board by mid-July.  At that time, we will be at 98 per cent of our full complement of airplane pilots.

Ornge has 69 helicopter pilots, and has recently hired five more, bringing the total number to 74 by July. At that time, we will be at 95 per cent of the full complement. 

PROGRESS AT ORNGE

Under its new leadership, Ornge is continuing to improve patient care, safety, transparency and accountability within Ontario's air ambulance service.  Since the arrival of new leadership in January, Ornge has put in place a temporary fix for the helicopter medical interior and the formation of a committee to find a long-term solution.  The on-scene helicopter launch policy has been changed to improve response times.  A new and improved performance agreement with the government of Ontario is in place, as is a new volunteer Board of Directors.  Further changes in the coming months will include the introduction of a whistleblower policy and a patient advocate.

ABOUT ORNGE
Ornge, a not-for-profit organization, coordinates all aspects of Ontario's air ambulance system, the critical care land transport program, paediatric transport program and the authorization of air and land ambulance transfers between hospitals.

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