Moving the rock

Times Contributor 

 

Wheatland and District Emergency Medical Services Association (WADEMSA) is wondering if the rock is beginning to shift, in their position between the rock and the hard place of contract negotiations with Alberta Health Services (AHS). 

WADEMSA, along with residents of Wheatland County area, have built and run one of the best rural ambulance delivery systems in the province. WADEMSA was built and paid for by the area residents. In 2005, the province started providing assistance to municipalities in Alberta, to help pay for emergency services. Over the course of the last few years the Government of Alberta has taken over the majority of Emergency Medical Services, but  

WADEMSA is still fighting the takeover.

“I don’t even want to think about it,” said Reeve Glenn Koester.

WADEMSA has been fighting for the last two years to solidify an operational contract with AHS. As the service matured, the quality and expertise of personnel increased, and staff were equitably compensated with appropriate wages for those skills. WADEMSA currently runs three ambulances, with each shift staffed with one Advanced Life Support (ALS) qualified paramedic, supported by Basic Life Support (BLS) trained paramedics. Both supervisory managers are ALS qualified and can man ambulances in emergencies, or utilize the response vehicle as an extra response unit.

In contract discussions with WADEMSA, Alberta Health Services (AHS) is stubbornly opposed to payment of appropriate wages to trained individuals, trying to negotiate only average compensation for an above average service. Considerations for transportation and equipment costs in a large County were also not considered.

Time and again negotiation stalemates arose and contract extensions were awarded. The last contract ended at the end of September, with another tentative agreement for another six month extension, offered by AHS. However, reorganizational changes and the removal of some key AHS staff members led to a meeting of the WADEMSA board, County representatives, the Director Bob Witty of WADEMSA and Rick Trimp, Executive Vice President of Provincial Programs on October 9.

“We had previously asked for a meeting and they put a team together to listen to our concerns,” said Reeve Glenn Koester. “It was nice for them to finally acknowledge our request and we saw the meeting as a positive move forward.”

WADEMSA was finally allowed to provide statistics and documentation that supported their reasoning for financial requests in the bargaining process. They showed how WADEMSA, with support from AHS, can run the program cheaper than the suggested downgraded program offered by AHS. Call statistics showed WADEMSA responded to approximately 50 per cent more calls than other rural providers, and although they incurred extended travel time over a large county area, they delivered service without significantly decreased health outcomes. Currently, the County of Wheatland is subsidizing the service by $10,000 per month, money that should be paid by AHS. It is not expected that the last two years of subsidized money will be paid back by AHS. 

Koester said any surplus funding they had is running out and they could not accept footing the bill for AHS indefinitely. 

WADEMSA was not given any resolution timeline, or indication on what results the Oct.ober 9 meeting would generate. When Brenda Huband, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Southern Alberta Health Services was contacted, she replied with no concrete details or indication that current stalemate strategies would change. 

“We are working with the Wheatland and District Emergency Medical Services Association to ensure high quality ambulance services continue, and will be sustainable into the future. These discussions are still ongoing. Patient care is of paramount importance. We are ensuring that patients in Strathmore and surrounding communities continue to receive high quality, timely ambulance services,” said Huband.

Koester is hoping the matter will be sent up the chain of command and resolution will be quickly resolved. He thanked WADEMSA staff for their patience and said he realized the amount of stress the uncertain situation placed upon them.

“Rick Trimp said he would give serious consideration to our concerns and would do so in a timely manner,” said Koester.