COVID-19 Updates: Taking steps to return to normal.
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COVID-19 Updates: Taking steps to return to normal.
Providing immediate and long-term recommendations to enhance Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provided to Albertans.
The Alberta EMS Provincial Advisory Committee was established to address the growing demand for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) across our province.
Calls to 911 have increased 30% since the spring of 2021, largely related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid crisis. This added strain leads to increased pressure on the EMS system and the people who work in it.
The advisory committee will provide immediate and long-term recommendations that will better support staff and ensure a strengthened and sustainable EMS system for Albertans needing services now and into the future.
Ministry of Health
The advisory committee will focus on the issues facing EMS, such as system pressures that may cause service gaps, staffing issues, and hours of work. This includes issues related to ground ambulance, air ambulance and dispatch.
Advisory committee members will also:
Throughout this work, the committee will provide regular updates and recommendations to the Minister of Health to be actioned in the short-term.
The committee will submit their initial formal report to the Minister in May 2022, and a final and more detailed report with long-term recommendations in July 2022.
Albertans are invited to email their suggestions on ways to improve EMS to [email protected].
Email submissions will be reviewed by the committee, but will not be responded to.
Co-Chairs:
Members:
The committee’s work, combined with actions already in progress, will improve EMS capacity in the coming months and will help inform a 5 to 10 Year EMS Service Plan for the province. The service plan is currently in development by AHS, in collaboration with the department, and is expected to be completed by September 2022.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) has a 10-point plan to add capacity to EMS and ensure the most critical patients receive immediate care.
Actions currently underway:
Actions to be rolled out soon:
In February, the province will issue a request for proposals to conduct an independent review of Alberta’s provincewide EMS dispatch system. This will provide further opportunities to identify and address ongoing pressures, and improve effectiveness and efficiency.
The request for proposal will be listed here when available.
Last updated: February 7, 2022