Fire departments now able to transport patients

By Rob Vogt – Local Press Writer
Protocols are now in place for fire departments in the Municipal District of Willow Creek to transport patients to the nearest hospital if Alberta Health Services emergency medical resources are delayed.
On Feb. 3, the Towns of Claresholm, Stavely, Nanton and Fort Macleod and the M.D. issued a joint news release announcing the adoption of the “Operating Guideline for Transporting Patients During Prolonged Response Times” for their respective communities.
The release noted 911 call requests for Alberta Health Services Emergency Medical Services have increased 30 per cent in recent years. This has posed considerable challenges and, in some cases, has resulted in delayed response times. Alberta Health Services recently announced changes undertaken as a result of their review of Emergency Medical Service delivery including additional EMS units, utilization of non-ambulance transfer resources, recruitment and retention strategies for staff and other initiatives that will improve service delivery.
Recently a significant policy change by Alberta Health Services will provide additional assurance of safety to citizens through collaboration between municipalities and Alberta Health Services to utilize municipal fire department resources to transport patients during periods of prolonged Alberta Health Services Emergency Medical Services response times.
Beginning immediately, fire departments may now consult with “online medical control” through the regional dispatch service and, if Alberta Health Services Emergency Medical Services response is delayed, fire departments may receive permission to transport the patient to the nearest hospital.
The region is well prepared for this new life-saving measure. In 2014, the M.D. purchased three emergency response units, or ambulances, as part of a pilot project with Alberta Health Services.
These units are located in Nanton, Claresholm and Fort Macleod and are staffed by professional volunteer firefighters, and will now be available for use in this patient transport initiative. Currently these units are used for medical first response. However, until this time they have not been utilized for transporting critically ill or injured patients.
This new patient transport capability is now in effect. Monitoring of the use of this new capability by fire departments will be regularly reviewed to ensure its correct and complete application.