The Southwest Centre for Prehospital Medicine (SWCPM), part of London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), is the regional leader in prehospital emergency medicine for Southwestern Ontario. Through the Southwest Ontario Regional Base Hospital Program (SWORBHP)—one of eight Regional Base Hospitals in Ontario—we provide medical oversight, education, and quality assurance to more than 1,700 Primary and Advanced Care Paramedics across 11 regional paramedic services.

Paramedic Oversight

At the core of our mandate, we deliver medical delegation, continuing education, and quality assurance to ensure paramedics provide safe, evidence-based care to patients across our diverse region. Our team works closely with regional services to maintain high standards of clinical excellence and operational readiness.

Medical Delegation for Fire and Police Services

Beyond paramedic oversight, SWCPM proudly provides medical delegation and oversight to fire and police services throughout Southwestern Ontario. Through Tiered Response Agreements, we empower firefighters and police officers to perform specific controlled medical acts -such as defibrillation during cardiac arrest – under defined medical directives. This program includes annual recertification, continuing medical education, and comprehensive quality improvement initiatives, ensuring firefighters and police officers are well prepared to respond effectively to medical emergencies.

Academic and College Partnerships

SWCPM also maintains strong partnerships with college paramedic programs across the region. We offer medical direction, curriculum guidance, and clinical expertise to ensure that paramedic education aligns with provincial standards and reflects the realities of frontline prehospital care. By bridging the gap between classroom learning and field practice, we help prepare the next generation of highly skilled paramedics.

System Leadership

As an active member of the Ontario Base Hospital Group and its Medical Advisory Committee, SWCPM contributes to provincial policy development and provides medical advice to the Ministry of Health. Through this collaboration, we advance best practices, support innovation, and help ensure seamless transitions of care – from first response to hospital arrival.  Our team is also actively engaged in prehospital research, with many of the studies we’ve participated in helping to transform out-of-hospital care both nationally and internationally.