Back to Search
RELEASE DATE:
March 2, 2026
The County of Renfrew Paramedic Service has recently teamed up with hospitals in Renfrew County to launch Fit2Sit, a program that helps return Paramedics to service within the community as quickly as possible after transporting a patient to hospital by ambulance.
Under this program, Paramedics assess patients during transport to determine whether they are stable, fully conscious, able to sit or stand independently, and not showing signs of distress.
When these low‑acuity patients arrive at the hospital, instead of staying on an ambulance stretcher, they are guided to a waiting room chair, so long as they are clothed appropriately for such placement, where hospital staff continue to monitor them. Paramedics can then return to service more quickly, knowing the patient is safe and will be seen based on medical need rather than arrival method. This approach frees up stretcher capacity, reduces ambulance offload times, and supports the flow of higher‑acuity patients who require more immediate attention.
Patients who are more acute or require immediate medical attention will remain under Paramedic care or transfer promptly to a hospital stretcher under the care of the emergency department.
“For patients, the experience remains straightforward. Those who qualify for Fit2Sit simply wait in the emergency department’s designated seating area, where they are monitored, just like any other patient in the waiting room,” said Nick LeRiche, Deputy Chief Operations, County of Renfrew Paramedic Service. “Their level of care does not change; the sickest and most urgent patients are still prioritized by hospital staff.”
Endorsed by Ontario’s Ministry of Health, the Fit2Sit program has been successfully adopted in other regions across the province including Waterloo, Simcoe County, Kawartha Lakes, Peel, Nipissing, and others.
By embracing Fit2Sit, the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service is joining a growing movement across Ontario to rethink how emergency departments manage patient flow and offload delays.
“Fit2Sit is rooted in collaboration, efficiency, and meaningful community safety,” added Deputy Chief LeRiche. “By enabling Paramedics to return to service more quickly, the entire community benefits. Whether responding to a sudden medical emergency, a serious injury, or a life-threatening situation, having Paramedics back on the road sooner ensures that critical care reaches those who need it most without delay.”
Emergency Department teams at Arnprior Regional Health, Deep River and District Health, Pembroke Regional Hospital, Renfrew Victoria Hospital and St. Francis Memorial Hospital received education and training on the Fit2Sit initiative to ensure a smooth implementation prior to the program launch late last year.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tina Peplinskie Media Relations Coordinator 613-735-7288
SubscribeContact Us
