EMS shoulders heavy load

Times Times Contributor  

 

Wheatland and District Emergency Medical Service Association (WADEMSA) is straining to handle the weight of increasing demands placed on them by Alberta Health Services (AHS). 

WADEMSA Operations Director, Rob Witty is asking for patience and support from Wheatland County citizens, as responders face new significant challenges to maintain the excellent service provided to the community. 

“Following the release of the Health Quality Report on March 4, we were notified by Alberta Health Dispatch representatives that they plan to consolidate the remaining six Interim Dispatch Centers (Lethbridge, Taber, Medicine Hat, Wheatland, Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House) into the Southern Alberta Communications Center located in Calgary,” said Witty.

It is part of an initiative proposed by results of the Health Quality Report on Ground Ambulances (HQR) See: www.health.alberta.ca/services/hqca.html. 

Stakeholders interviewed for the HQR indicated the early transition actions delivered a fractured system, a culture of mistrust, poor ambulance coverage in rural areas, dissenting opinions about dispatch consolidation, change fatigue due to AHS organizational and change management policies and poor communication. AHS representative Jim Garland, Executive Director of EMS Dispatch, Communications and Deployment, said measures have been taken to correct some of the concerns that developed in early transition processes.

“I am not sure it will address local intricacies and deliver good patient care. What is the focus of EMS? It should be patient care. This seems to be based on dollars and cents,” said Witty about his concerns over the proposed action to centralize dispatch.

Witty has agreed to work with AHS to set up a project plan for Wheatland’s transition. He anticipates the ambulances will be required to respond to areas not traditionally serviced by WADEMSA. Depending on the location of available crews, Wheatland ambulances may have to remain in Calgary to provide coverage, or be dispatched within another county’s boundary. He was concerned that crews would be out of the area for the majority of the day. Garland indicated that best efforts will be made by dispatch to keep ambulances available to cover within their areas. 

Minister Fred Horne indicated consolidations help make Inter-hospital transfers from the city more efficient. It is expected that because Strathmore is on the highway corridor, WADEMSA ambulances may be increasingly utilized in that role. However, residents fear it will make ambulance response within Strathmore less efficient. 

The AHS decision to close the extended care at Strathmore hospital means more ambulance transfer calls are expected between Sagewood and the hospital. Witty said the opening of Sagewood significantly increased their call volume and that call volume will increase again, with increased occupancy in the new wing and response for patients with significant medical needs. WADEMSA ambulances currently have a call volume of approximately 1,000 calls per year, considered over the average for most rural services.

With call volumes up and response time impacted through borderless dispatch, there should be a justification for more ambulances and staff. WADEMSA currently has 55 staff, but there are no indications that extra funding will be delivered to WADEMSA for more ambulances and crews. Garland said that in some cases, AHS has redistributed other resources to assist ambulances with high call volumes or enhance patient safety, if data proves the measure necessary. 

MLA Jason Hale objected in the Legislature (You Tube March 18, 2013) to a half million dollar cut to WADEMSA’s service contract. Minister Fred Horne replied the government has made a policy position to move to centralized provincial system and has no interest in going back to municipally run services. 

WADEMSA employees are without a working contract, but prohibited from striking because they are an essential service.

“In 2009, prior to transition of EMS to Alberta Health Services, the Health Minister gave municipalities the choice whether to give up services to AHS or to contract to them. Our Board (WADEMSA) felt it was in the best interest of our citizens to contract, because we offered a good service. We had an initial contract for two years, with two one year extensions,” said Witty. “The Board made it very clear that they want to run EMS and want a contract with AHS,” said Witty.

AHS continues to delay settling the contract, by giving two more contract extensions until September. WADEMSA is one of the last two contracted emergency services in the area surrounding Calgary. 

“If we can’t come up with a contract, and our Board decides to divest the services to AHS, I think we would lose some of the local community connection and spirit. We got into this business to help people and we are helping people in our own community. We take a special pride and privilege in doing that. When you are answering to someone in Calgary, you don’t get that connection,” said Witty.

Citizens concerned about any EMS issue can write the Health Minister at 208 Legislature Building,10800 97 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, Canada T5K 2B6. His Constituent office Email: edmonton.rutherford@assembly.ab.ca Phone: (780) 427-3665, or contact Rick Fraser, who has been appointed as EMS liaison: 503C Legislature Building, 10800 97 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, Canada T5K 2B6 (780) 415-0760, or his constituent office: Unit 202, 5126 – 126 Avenue SE, Calgary, AB, Canada T2Z 0H2 (403) 215-8930 calgary.southeast@assembly.ab.ca