As a way to combat higher than normal Emergency Medical Services (EMS) call volumes, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has given budget approval for temporary funding to stabilize EMS staffing. Prior to the pandemic, EMS in the province averaged about 1,095 911 calls per day. Currently, EMS call volume is averaging 1,521 calls a day.
“This funding will help stabilize EMS staffing levels and ensure that we are able to respond to Albertans and also take care of our staff,” says Dr. Verna Yiu, AHS President and CEO. “Our paramedics play an important role in health care, and this investment provides stability of funding so they can continue to provide high quality patient care to Albertans who need it.”
EMS will use $8.3 million to take 70 casual positions and bump them to temporary full-time jobs. Another 30 , previously temp jobs from Calgary and Edmonton hired in 2019, will now be permanent full time positions.
“This will allow EMS to hire new casual staff and to return to using our casual positions for their intended purpose, such as providing short term and temporary relief for paramedics who are off on sick time or taking vacation time,” explains Darren Sandbeck, Chief Paramedic and Senior Provincial Director, AHS EMS. “This funding helps us keep paramedic numbers stable so we can continue to respond to emergencies. We also continue to work with our Emergency Department partners and the Government of Alberta on new strategies to shorten the time it takes to transfer care from an ambulance to the appropriate hospital department so that paramedics can return to service sooner.”
Many things have factored into the rise of EMS calls such as the pandemic, wildfire smoke and heat-related events.
“We need to do our best to support our paramedics and all healthcare workers now as we continue to see high demand on our healthcare services, and this decision by AHS should provide some tangible short term relief as we work on longer term solutions,” Health Minister Tyler Shandro says.
Positions are already being posted to fill the EMS position gaps and a Workforce Planning Taskforce has been established to make sure positions are filled quickly and seamlessly.
-Calvin Hector, Trending 55 Newsroom
