founded over 23 years ago & part of an international organization
Hatzoloh Toronto promptly responds to the emergency medical needs of the Toronto Jewish community.
Hatzoloh Toronto operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We respond in the GTA to approximately 1,500 – 2,000 calls annually. We complement Toronto’s ambulance service with rapid, high-quality, non-transport care within minutes of being dispatched. Hatzoloh Toronto also ensures that 911 has been called.
Hatzoloh Toronto’s responders will stay with a patient until the ambulance arrives as well as ensuring that a transfer of care to ambulance paramedics occurs. Today, Hatzoloh has evolved into North America’s largest volunteer emergency medical service. Its entirely volunteer membership is trained to cater to the unique religious needs of the Jewish community with regard to emergency medical care.
Meet our team
We are here to help.
Dr. Ari Greenwald took on the role of Hatzoloh Toronto Medical Director in March 2019. He is an Emergency Physician at both Hamilton Health Sciences and Mackenzie Health. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at McMaster University in their Department of Medicine. Dr. Greenwald attended medical school at the University of Toronto (2003-2007). He subsequently did his FRCP residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Toronto (2007-2012). Dr. Greenwald has subspecialty interests in medical eduction, medical simulation and point-of-care ultrasound. Building on the work of Dr. Paul Perlon who was the preceding Hatzoloh medical director, Dr. Greenwald helped to expand and oversee Hatzoloh’s Advanced Care responder service, which offers advanced pre-hospital care interventions provided by trained and licensed units. He also led the measles prevention campaign in 2019 with a dedicated team of Public Health physicians, nurses, Hatzoloh members and community members.
Emergency Medical Dispatchers undergo a training process which is closely monitored by the dispatch supervisor. Training includes classroom and practical skills. EMD’s answer the emergency calls and record all pertinent info. Following the call, the EMD will then dispatch the closest available responders to the scene via radio while simultaneously notifying Toronto EMS or York Region EMS so that they can send a paramedic ambulance. The EMD’s will also send patient status updates to the EMS crews responding as needed.
EMR’s undergo a year + of extensive training in pre hospital emergency care. All training is done in house by our EMR instructor to ensure the students receive the highest caliber of training, along with the sensitivity skills needed to help the people within the community that we serve. Initial training includes classroom and practical skills followed by exams after which they enter a graduated certification program where they are closely monitored and directed by field training officers and supervisors. Upon successfully completing the aforementioned process, the trainee will be given the Hatzoloh EMR certification. EMR’s are well trained to deal with a full range of medical emergencies, from minor lacerations to cardiac arrest. They are also trained and equipped to administer a series of symptom relief and lifesaving medications. The EMR is required to attend a Hatzoloh sponsored monthly CPR review and a bi monthly Continuing Medical Education lecture. As well, EMR’s are encouraged to spend time observing patient care while riding along with ambulance crews and emergency room shifts.