9-1-1: the three numbers that signal emergency. We dial those numbers expecting help – but what if that help can’t get there until it’s too late? It’s a situation paramedics say is happening too often. Eleven paramedics have spoken out to Global News, putting their jobs on the line to sound an alarm about the crisis facing Edmonton’s ambulance system.
These front line workers say many ambulances are tied up daily at hospital ERs throughout the city. Paramedics have to stay with their patients, and although sometimes one paramedic can stay with two or three patients, fewer ambulances are left on the streets. The paramedics who spoke to Global say wait times have suffered as a consequence – with some callers waiting twenty-five minutes to two hours for an ambulance.
Those who came forward trace the crux of the problem back to the time Alberta Health Services took over the ambulance system from local operators. They say once the City of Edmonton knew AHS was going to take over, they pulled expansion plans.
The paramedics also say the new ‘borderless’ ambulance system isn’t working. When Edmonton is down to zero ambulances available (termed a “code red”), ambulances from outlying areas are brought in to cover; but, that leaves the outlying communities with little or no coverage.
Paramedics who spoke out say code reds have become a regular occurrence in Edmonton, one saying “in the shifts that I did in September- so that would be 16 shifts – we were on a red every one of those.”
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The solution, they say, isn’t easy. More ambulances on the streets would help, but emergency room wait times are a big part of the problem and also need to continue to be tackled. The paramedics are hopeful management listens to their concerns and acts right away – they say the system – and staff – can’t withstand the pressure it’s currently under.
One paramedic noted “I feel like there’s no hope…I go to work everyday and think – I need to look for a new job.”
These concerns were raised in a survey leaked to the media in early January. At the time, AHS acknowledged there were concerns and said it would work to address them with the paramedics’ union in a joint committee. Shortly before Global’s exclusive aired, AHS sent us the following response to the claims:
“Alberta Health Services (AHS) welcomes and appreciates any kind of feedback in terms of how we deliver service. The HSAA survey provides an indication of what some EMS employees are thinking. We are committed to working with HSAA and staff to improve morale and address concerns raised by our staff.
Certainly there have been some challenges with the EMS transition to a provincewide system, and we acknowledge that this has been difficult for some staff. However, there have been many benefits to moving from a municipal system to a provincial one. We now have a borderless system, which allows us to send the closest EMS responder to calls. We have consistent care across the province, regardless of where a person lives and we can better coordinate pre-hospital care and patient transfers.
AHS EMS has created an employee engagement workforce team that includes front line staff. The team is focused on increasing the overall engagement and workplace satisfaction of EMS employees through recognition programs, better utilization of new reporting and learning systems and new coaching and mentoring programs.
The EMS team is taking a series of steps to address the response time increase, and has several initiatives underway to review existing resources and deployment strategies in Edmonton. We have developed a facilities plan to identify optimal locations for Edmonton EMS stations, which will address the recent closure of two stations and reduced availability/usage of the downtown station. We have relocated a Paramedic Response Unit to the West End and we expect to open a new station by the end of January on Fort Rd.
EMS practitioners continue to provide excellent care to patients in need. We see it every day, in the city of Edmonton and across the province. We are proud of the work they do, and will continue to do all we can to support them in their work.”
On Tuesday, January 17 Health Minister Fred Horne appeared on Global News to address the concerns as well. Here’s what he had to say:
Just 8 days after Global’s exclusive on the state of Edmonton’s ambulance system, the province responded with the announcement of hiring more staff. On January 24th, Minister Fred Horne told Global News, that effective immediately, there would be 2 more ambulances on the road. The province also said it would hire 17 new staff, including 5 paramedics and 12 Emergency Medical Technicians, (EMTs), with a plan to hire 14 more staff after that for a total of 31 new front line emergency staff.
Since then, though, more paramedics have come forward with concerns. They say that there are still many times a day where they are faced with a Code Red situation in Edmonton.
On Friday, February 24th, some of the paramedics joined Liberal MLA David Swann by phone, speaking of instances where long response times have led to poor outcomes. One of the examples they cited was a cardiac arrest case where “the long response time assured that (the patient) would not be given a chance.”
The accounts are now prompting the Liberals to call for the Health Quality Council to review EMS.
“EMS is the canary in the mine shaft because it reflects the disorganization and communication problems that has plagued the whole system,” said Swann.
Premier Alison Redford insists the issue is being worked on, and says she doesn’t believe these kinds of “daily allegations” will make the system better.
“We’ve got to start to bring some real public dialogue and info to this issue in a meaningful way,” she said.
Ahs Ems 5 Year Plan 2010
Alberta Health Services has put a fact sheet on EMS services in Alberta on the AHS website
For more information, the government also has a detailed history and answers to some more popular questions on ground ambulance service
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