Repatriation of Ontario Patients - A Guide for Patients and their Families

Oct 4, 2026

Repatriation of Ontario patients explains how CritiCall Ontario coordinates emergency consultation, referral, and return of critically ill adult, paediatric, and neonatal patients treated outside Ontario. The guide details the repatriation timeline, the role of hospital case managers, medical stability criteria, and how a suitable Ontario hospital is selected. It also clarifies transportation arrangements and when families must organize travel, plus coverage rules under Ontario health insurance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Repatriation of Ontario Patients - A Guide for Patients and their Families

The Repatriation Process

Patient Transportation

Medical Coverage

Keeping You Informed

Repatriation of Ontario Patients – A Guide for Patients and their Families CritiCall Ontario is a one number to call, 24/7 emergency consultation and referral service for hospitalbased physicians in Ontario caring for critically ill adult, paediatric and neonatal patients. Although CritiCall strives to find care for patients as close to home as possible, in some cases, it is necessary to refer patients outside of Ontario to another province or even the United States so they can receive the care they require as quickly as possible. Patients who are referred out of Ontario for emergency medical care through CritiCall Ontario will be returned to Ontario for the remainder of their care as soon as possible. This process is called“repatriation.” In most cases, CritiCall will oversee repatriation of the patients it sends out of province or out of country. The following information is intended to help patients and their families understand how this process works as well as their own roles and responsibilities. The Repatriation Process CritiCall Ontario will initiate contact with the hospital where the patient is receiving care within 48 hours of the patient’s arrival. CritiCall Ontario will work directly with the patient’s Case Managers at the hospital to determine: if the patient’s emergency health issue has addressed the patient’s ongoing health care requirements (for example, does the patient still require a high level or care, access to rehabilitation services, etc. ) if the patient is medically stable and ready for transport back to Ontario Using this information, CritiCall will: Locate a hospital within Ontario as close as possible to the patient’s home with the resources necessary to address the patient’s current care needs (this can include ongoing acute care, rehabilitation, etc.) Contact the Case Manager with details about where the patient will be going for the remainder of his or her care and the timing of the transfer Assist in arranging transportation from the out of province hospital to the receiving Ontario hospital Patient Transportation Patient transportation is included in the repatriation process for patients transferred out of province by CritiCall Ontario when the patient is returning to an Ontario hospital. In most cases, patients will be returned to Ontario using the same mode of transportation (eg. air or land ambulance) involved in the initial transport. If the patient is well enough to be discharged directly from the out of province facility or expires while outside of Ontario, CritiCall will not oversee transportation back to Ontario. In both cases, it will be up to the patient or the patient’s family to arrange transportation back to Ontario. Medical Coverage It is very common for patients who are receiving care outside of Ontario to have questions about medical insurance and other expenses. Below is a brief overview of coverage as it applies to patients who have been transferred out of the province or country by CritiCall: The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care pays for a wide range of services, however, it does not pay for services that are not medically necessary. Most of your Ontario health benefits are covered across Canada. The province or territory you are visiting will usually bill the Ontario Ministry of Health and LongTerm Care directly for hospital and physician services. In Quebec, you may have to pay for physician services and then submit your receipt to your local ministry office for payment. Expenses incurred by patient family members for non-medical services such as travel, accommodation and meals (except where included as part of insured hospital services) are NOT covered by OHIP. Treatment that is generally accepted in Ontario as experimental, for research or a survey, including clinical and drug trials are also not covered by OHIP. More detailed information regarding out of province emergency medical coverage is available by

FAQs

What is repatriation in this guide?

Repatriation is the process of returning an Ontario patient from outside the province (or the United States) back to Ontario for the remainder of their care as soon as possible.

What does CritiCall Ontario do during the repatriation process?

CritiCall Ontario initiates contact with the treating hospital within 48 hours, works with the hospital case manager to assess health needs and transport readiness, and helps locate an appropriate Ontario hospital and arrange transfer details and transportation.

When do patients or their families need to arrange transportation back to Ontario?

If the patient is well enough to be discharged directly from the out-of-province facility, or expires while outside Ontario, CritiCall Ontario will not oversee transportation back. In those cases, transportation is arranged by the patient or patient’s family.

Oct 4, 2026

Uploaded by PakDamar76