The Alberta government has moved EMS under the umbrella of its new Acute Care department, causing mixed reaction.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
With Acute Care becoming operational on April 1, the Government of Alberta has announced that emergency medical services will transfer with it, along with investment into the program.
The province says it will establish a shared-services entity to support provincial health agencies and service providers, with the aim of enhancing specialized expertise and improving care.
This entity would provide necessary services like information technology, finance and human resources functions, along with centralized communications functions, as well as IT services in Alberta’s health-care system.
This aims to ensure patients have a seamless journey throughout the health-care system and health-care workers have system-wide access to critical patient information, and is expected to be operational in the summer.
“From the beginning of our refocusing efforts, we’ve emphasized the importance of creating organizations dedicated to specific sectors, allowing health care workers to focus on what they do best,” said Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health. “By moving emergency health services to Acute Care Alberta, I am confident it will receive the focused attention needed to deliver the care Albertans deserve.”
“Under the oversight of Acute Care Alberta, emergency health services will work to enhance emergency care and improve system efficiency, patient safety and response times in all parts of the province,” says the province.
They continued that EMS will also be accountable for driving system improvements and wellbeing for both staff and patients, among others.
Reducing emergency response times, strengthening EMS capacity and supporting paramedics on the front lines remains a top priority, the government says, and Budget 2025 contains $56 million in increased funding for EMS.
There is also an additional $40 million toward a total investment of $60 million over three years to the EMS Vehicles Capital Program, to replace vehicles reaching the end of their life cycles.
“Emergency health services is the first line of care for Albertans in times of crisis. By moving EHS under Acute Care Alberta, supported by dedicated expertise and resources, we are empowering our teams to provide the highest-quality care when and where it’s needed most,” said Anne MacDonald, executive director of EMS Provincial Operations.
Health Sciences Association of Alberta however, says this plan seems to be falling short of what medical first responders actually need, and “was about changing letterhead, not changing lives,” said Mike Parker, HSAA president.
“Frontline paramedics need better vehicles. They need better equipment. But more than anything, they need backup. They need more on the frontlines, in those vehicles, using that equipment. No one is calling 911 is worried about whether it’s EMS or AHS or Acute Care Alberta. They’re worried about who is arriving and how long it’s going to take,” said Parker.
He continued on to criticize that it was not articulated how many more staff will be added to the system, or when ambulances will be ordered or arrive.
“Emergency services professionals hope that this refocusing will mean more health care professionals but that was not clear today,” said Parker. “Paramedics are burning out at an alarming rate. We’re seeing ambulances called from further and further away. We’re seeing mass casualty stretchers in ambulance bays because emergency rooms are full. So today, I have a recommendation for the report that’s sitting on the Minister’s desk: invest in staff. Pay them better, treat them better. Retain them, recruit them, and above all, respect them.”
