The bold plan focuses on improving ambulance response times for life-threatening and time-critical 9-1-1 calls, and enhancing services for patients who don’t require ambulance transport to hospital.
A newly released progress report on the BCEHS Action Plan describes many of the changes that have already taken place in year one of the three-year plan. Progress includes adding 127 paramedic positions, 20 dispatch positions, 45 ambulance vehicles, as well as other investments to ensure high-quality, sustainable services.
“This first year of changes at BCEHS demonstrates our commitment to increasing the number of stable paramedic positions, and improving emergency services in urban, rural and remote areas of the province,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix. “More paramedics and changes that allow BCEHS to better match resources to patients means better care for all British Columbians.”
BCEHS has also introduced innovations in its dispatch centres to improve clinical oversight and enhance the patient experience for those who have non-urgent medical issues.
“Meeting the needs of patients is at the heart of everything we are doing to improve our services,” said Linda Lupini, executive vice president of BCEHS and the Provincial Health Services Authority. “We are deeply proud of our staff for their commitment in helping BCEHS make these transformative changes.”
The first year of implementation of the BCEHS Action Plan lays the groundwork for more service improvements in years two and three. As part of year two, BCEHS has implemented a new clinical response model and will introduce more pathways for patients to be treated in their homes and communities.
BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) is responsible for the delivery and governance of pre-hospital emergency medical care and inter-facility patient transfer services through the BC Ambulance Service and the BC Patient Transfer Network. BCEHS is supported by the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). For more information, please visit www.bcehs.ca or follow us on Twitter @BC_EHS.
The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) plans, manages and evaluates selected specialty and province-wide health care services across BC, working with the five geographic health authorities to deliver province-wide solutions that improve the health of British Columbians. For more information, visit www.phsa.ca or follow us on Twitter @PHSAofBC.
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Shannon Miller
BCEHS Communications Officer
Phone: 604.660.2968 or PHSA Media Line: 778.867.7472
Ministry of Health Communications 250.952.1887 (media line)
