The Ministry of Health has released the newest iteration of the Advanced Life Support Patient Care Standards (ALS PCS), version 5.2. This updated version of the Standards comes into force on Monday, July 10, 2023.

Immediate practice-related changes are limited and include updates to 2 core medical directives (Opioid Toxicity and Withdrawal Medical Directive and Nausea/Vomiting Medical Directive). Paramedics will find changes to auxiliary medical directives within the Chemical Exposure directives and the Special Event directives.

RPPEO anticipates an explanatory memo on the practice-related changes from the provincial Ontario Base Hospital Group later in July. Meanwhile, we encourage paramedics to contact RPPEO if you have any questions or concerns once you've reviewed ALS PCS 5.2.