Overview

Clinical research is fundamental to the practice of medicine and the development of safer, more effective treatment options for patients.

This page contains a list of ongoing and completed research trials approved by the Ministry of Health that include patient care practices that differ from those set out in the Basic Life Support Patient Care Standards and Advanced Life Support Patient Care Standards (as set out in their respective Research Standards).

More information regarding the submission and approval process for proposed research trials can be found in the “Research Trial Submission and Approval Process -v1.0”. For specific questions regarding ongoing or completed research trials, please contact ParamedicStandards@ontario.ca.

Ongoing research trials

Name of trial Start date End date Principal Investigator (PI)
Double Sequential External Defibrillation for Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation (DOSE-VF) Randomized Controlled Trial September 3, 2019 January 31, 2026 Dr. Sheldon Cheskes
Medical Director
Sunnybrook Center for Prehospital Medicine
Sheldon.Cheskes@sunnybrook.ca
Expanding Care by Paramedics to Palliative Patients (EC3P) Study October 1, 2019 January 1, 2024 Dr. Clare Wallner
Associate Medical Director
Hamilton Health Sciences Centre for Paramedic Education & Research
wallnerc@mcmaster.ca
Patellar Reduction in the Prehospital Setting (PRPS) Study December 1, 2019 January 31, 2026 Dr. Jason Prpic, CCFP (EM)
Health Sciences North Centre for Prehospital Care
jprpic@hsnsudbury.ca
CanROC Epinephrine Dose: Optimal versus Standard Evaluation Trial (EpiDOSE) Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial January 2022 January 2026 Dr. Paul Dorian and Dr. Steve Lin, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital

Completed research trials

Name of trial Start date End date Principal Investigator (PI)
Automated Administration of Oxygen using the FreeO2 Device in Ambulances for COPD and Trauma Patients: A Feasibility Study December 1, 2019 June 1, 2021 Dr. Mike Austin
Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario
maustin@toh.ca
Prehospital Analgesia in Adults using Inhaled Methoxyflurane: A Feasibility Study January 2021 ~3 months after start date Dr. Mike Austin
Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario
maustin@toh.ca