CITYBEAT - City of Calgary Press Release

In 2004 Calgary EMS responded 92,439 times, an increase of 5.6 percent over the previous year. In the last 5 years, emergency responses have increased by 34 percent, and the last decade has seen a 119 percent increase. The average overall response time for all lights and siren emergency responses city wide last year was 6 minutes and 56 seconds - an increase of only 4 seconds over the previous year. While this increase is only marginal, long-term trends have identified a gradual creeping of response times. In 2000, average response times were 6 minutes and 29 seconds, but marginal increases over 5 years have pushed response times up by 27 seconds, and closer to 7 minutes.

"Calgarians continue to receive excellent and timely emergency medical care every time they call 911 and ask for an ambulance," says Calgary EMS Chief Tom Sampson. "We have always provided the highest level of patient care and public service by setting high standards for ourselves and making our patients the number one priority - Calgarians deserve and expect no less."

The most significant challenges and contributing factors faced by EMS today are the significant geographical growth of Calgary, the increasing population, the ageing senior's population, increased traffic congestion, hospital congestion, and the associated delays clearing ambulances from emergency rooms.

"While our overall response times continue to be respectable, and every 911 call for help is always answered, we are taking significant steps now to address this issue and ensure Calgarians are well cared for," notes Chief Sampson. "My desire is to reduce our overall response time to below 6 minutes."

In 2004, the University of Alberta (U of A) Center of Excellence in Operations was requested to review 4 years of response data, and using mathematical and statistical models they provided recommended changes to the EMS strategic deployment system. As a result of the U of A recommendations and the recent 2005 budget approval, the following changes are being implemented:

• Effective February 8, a 24-hour Paramedic Response Unit (PRU) at emergency station #28 in Edgemont was replaced with an ambulance on duty 24-hours a day.
• Effective February 8, an additional peak time ambulance was placed into service at emergency station #14 on Horton Road SW. This peak time ambulance is on duty for 12 hours each day.
• Effective February 18, two additional peak time ambulances will be on duty 12 hours each day for additional weekend coverage Wednesday through Sunday.
• Effective next week, 2 Paramedics will be scheduled to work in the hallway of the Foothills Hospital emergency room 7 days a week to accept patients that have been transported by ambulance. These 2 paramedics can monitor and treat up to 5 patients at once, thereby allowing up to 5 ambulances to clear the hospital and return to service sooner. A recent 6 -week trial showed this strategy returned ambulances to service sooner, making them available for the next call for help.

Background Information

Peak time ambulances are used for 12 hours each day, when call volumes are highest. As call volumes increase to the busiest times of the day, the number of peak time ambulances on duty also increases, efficiently matching resources with call volumes.

Paramedic Response Units (PRU) are staffed with a single paramedic and strategically positioned in the perimeter communities where call volumes are lower than average and in the downtown core where call volumes are always very high. When a call is received in an area where the PRU is the closest unit, it will be dispatched immediately, and backed up by the closest available ambulance. As every PRU in Calgary (and every ambulance) is staffed with a paramedic, and equipped to provide full advanced life support (ALS) care, this ensures Calgarians receive the level of care they deserve and expect. When the ambulance arrives a short time later, the crew will continue patient care and transport the patient to hospital, if necessary. If the patient does not require transport, the PRU will stay on scene and complete all of the required documentation, allowing the ambulance to clear and return to service sooner.

With the new ambulances placed into service, the Calgary EMS fleet will be comprised of the following:

• 20 ambulances full time (24 hour units)
• 19 ambulances peak time (12 hour units)
• 3 PRUs full time (24 hours)
• 1 Air Medical Crew stationed in the international airport terminal (24 hours)

Public Contact Information

Mike Plato, EMT-P
Public Education Officer
Calgary EMS - mike.plato@calgary.ca

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