Non-emergency medical transportation in Ottawa and Gatineau
Since 1996
Serving the region
7 days a week
Seven days a week, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Trained
First aid, CPR, PDSB
Bilingual
Ottawa and Gatineau
Non-emergency medical transportation moves someone whose condition is stable but who cannot travel in an ordinary car. An appointment, a transfer between hospitals, a ride home after a stay.
TSMO has been doing it across Ottawa, Gatineau and the Outaouais since 1996, seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Stretcher, wheelchair, or a steady arm from the living room to the exam room.
Who this service is for
People whose medical condition is stable, and who may need a stretcher, a wheelchair or oxygen along the way.
People who cannot use regular public paratransit, or who cannot get into a standard vehicle.
Someone coming home after a hospital stay. Someone going to dialysis three mornings a week. Someone being moved between health facilities. A parent whose family can no longer manage the trip themselves.
What happens between your phone call and the front door
This is the part most people ask about, so here it is in order.
Before the trip, the driver gets what they need from the people who already know: the nurse, the residence staff, or you. Oxygen. How the person transfers. What they can manage on their own. What helps them stay calm.
During the trip, the accompaniment starts inside the home, the residence or the hospital room, and ends inside the destination. Not at the curb.
At the other end, the driver stays until someone has taken charge of the person. Nobody is left in a waiting room to figure it out alone.
A family member is welcome to ride along.
What’s in the vehicles
Defibrillator on board. On-board electrical power. Lift platform. Padded reclining geriatric wheelchairs. Stretcher. GPS fleet tracking.
And the detail that decides whether a trip is possible at all: TSMO is equipped to handle stairs at private residences. A lot of homes in the Outaouais have a flight of them between the front door and the street.
Who is driving
Professional drivers, trained in first aid, CPR and safe patient handling — the PDSB method used across the Quebec health network.
Bilingual, both sides of the river.
Where TSMO goes
Every day, close to home. Ottawa, Gatineau, Hull, Aylmer, the Outaouais, the Pontiac, the Petite Nation and Maniwaki.
Into Ontario. TSMO meets the regulations of Ontario’s transportation boards, and picks up from Ontario hospitals, private residences and nursing homes. The Ottawa valley, Toronto, northern Ontario.
Farther, on request. Montreal, elsewhere in Quebec, and beyond. Every long trip is different, so you get a free quote for your itinerary, with waiting time built in if the appointment needs it.
Many trips are paid by someone other than the passenger: the SAAQ, the CNESST, an employer, an insurer, a residence or a health facility. Mention it when you call and we will tell you what the file needs. See payers and insurers
Frequently asked questions
What is non-emergency medical transportation?
It is transportation for someone whose medical condition is stable but who cannot travel in an ordinary car. The trip is planned in advance, unlike an ambulance, which responds to an emergency.
How is it different from an ambulance?
An ambulance responds to an emergency with paramedics on board. Non-emergency transport is booked ahead for a stable person to a known destination, which is what makes it available, schedulable and less expensive.
Does TSMO carry people on a stretcher?
Yes. The vehicles carry a stretcher, a lift platform and a defibrillator on board.
What are the hours?
Seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Can a family member ride along?
Yes, on any TSMO trip.
What area is covered?
Ottawa, Gatineau, Hull, Aylmer, the Outaouais, the Pontiac, the Petite Nation and Maniwaki. TSMO also meets the regulations of Ontario’s transportation boards and travels to Montreal, Toronto and farther on request.
How much notice is needed?
The more notice, the easier it is to give you the exact time you want. For something sooner, call and we will look at the day’s availability with you.
Seven days a week, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Need to arrange transportation?
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