Less Hospital, More Support: Evidence for Paramedic-Led Diversion Models

In March 2026's journal club we step into a nuanced corner of prehospital care that’s quietly reshaping how systems think about patient destinations. We unpack research from Toronto on paramedics transporting intoxicated patients to a stabilization centre rather than straight to the emergency department. Most patients required no medical interventions in the field, and only a small subset needed later transfer to a hospital. What does this mean for EMS diversion practices, resource use, and paramedic decision-making? Join us for a practical, forward-looking discussion on when less hospital might mean better care in the prehospital world.

Article: Examining a Stabilization Center for Patients with Alcohol or Opioid Intoxication Transported by Paramedics: A Cohort Study of an Emergency Department Diversion Model