How many paramedic vacancies were there in Airdrie last year? – DiscoverAirdrie.com

In April 2023, more than a quarter of primary and secondary care paramedic posts in Airdrie were vacant in Airdrie; Vacancy rates for primary care paramedics were the second highest for any paramedic position in Airdrie and Calgary last year.

The chart shows the vacancy rate for Advanced Care Practitioners (ACP) and Primary Care Paramedics (PCP) in Calgary, Airdrie as well as regions in Alberta. (Graphic credit to Alberta Health Services)

Documents requested from Alberta Health Services (AHS) through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) show that Airdrie's lowest average vacancy rate was in January 2023; the lowest vacancy rate for Advanced Care Paramedics (ACP) for that year. Airdrie's overall average vacancy rate between December 2022 and December 2023 was five times that of Calgary.

However, from a provincial perspective, Alberta's Northern region experienced the highest vacancy rates in the entire province last year, with more than a third of paramedic positions vacant in the region. The province's Northern Region is geographically the largest region in Alberta.

Earlier this year, due to a shortage of paramedics in the Northern Region, it was revealed that AHS had asked Calgary region paramedics if they would be willing to send them to the Northern Region to help fill vacancies.

Earlier, an AHS representative wrote that the number of paramedics employed by AHS increased by 15.6 percent between December 2019 and October 30, 2023.

How long did Airdrie ambulances spend in hospitals?

Airdrie-based ambulances spent most of their time at Calgary health facilities last year. Calgary's Peter Lougheed Center is where Airdrie's ambulances spend most of their time, with the longest visiting hours likely to be in January 2023.

FOIP document showing the total number of hours spent by Airdrie-based ambulances en route to Calgary (Graphic credit to Alberta Health Services)

In March 2023, AHS released an explanation of what the 45-minute shooting delay meant.

“The Canadian standard for so-called EMS drop-off is 45 minutes. This 45-minute Canadian standard is the target and will also become the AHS standard. Safely handing patients over to EMS crews will reduce the wait time for EMS teams to respond. help and paramedics back into communities. Forty-five minutes is the goal we strive to achieve as we continue to protect patient safety.”

AHS also added that it is setting up multiple scaffolds to ensure adequate staffing, equipment and space are available to care for patients brought in by EMS.

“AHS clinical teams and EMS are working together to develop plans to support the safe transfer of patients to on-site care teams. This transition will take place over the course of several weeks beginning March 15, 2023. The transition will be monitored to adjust processes on a case-by-case basis. Time, patient and care staff are consistent. care support”.

While the data showed a slight decrease in the total time Airdrie station ambulances spent on Calgary traffic routes in the month after the 45-minute unloading target was announced, December 2023 saw the longest time Airdrie ambulances spent at their locations. transport destination since last December.

FOIP document showing total hours spent on Airdrie routes by ambulances with Airdrie station (Graphic credit to Alberta Health Services)

Answers outside of Airdrie and Calgary

FOIP documents also show Airdrie station ambulances responded to 1,077 9-1-1 calls in 2023 in communities outside of Airdrie and Calgary. 75 activities were considered interfacility transfers, and 45 were considered “other.” In total, Airdrie ambulances responded to 1,196 calls in the surrounding communities.

However, the FOIP documents noted that the data does not reflect the response interval for incidents in the Calgary area and does not reflect the response interval for incidents responded to by Airdrie units, as there may have been non-Airdrie units that arrived earlier on the scene.

“Airdrie units may or may not be in Airdrie when responding to an incident in the Calgary area.”

The total number of alpha calls exceeded 200, the average response time exceeded 25 minutes, and the maximum average response time was approximately two and a half hours. Bravo had 182 responses, averaging about 20 minutes, and the longest was two hours and 48 minutes.

Charlie calls totaled 230, and Delta calls, considered life-threatening, had the most, with a total of 420. Echo calls, the most serious, were 19.

FOIP documents show the mean, median and maximum response times for the most life-threatening 9-1-1 calls outside of Calgary and Airdrie answered by Airdrie ambulances. (Graphic credit to Alberta Health Services)

Establishment of EMS Standing Committee

A few months ago, the province announced the creation of a new standing committee, the EMS Standing Committee, which will, among other things, “report on the (health) ministry's current assessment of the EMS system and make recommendations for improvements across the workforce, system. performance and standards.

“The committee advises on all aspects of the system, including air ambulance, dispatch, ground ambulance and first aid. Paramedics and representatives of EMS partner organizations, municipalities and local communities are invited to sit on the committee.”

As of late November 2023, there have been no updates from the province on when the committee might begin work.

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