Through real-life stories from the 911 call to the paramedic response on-scene and the ambulance ride to hospital, viewers will have an inside look at the challenges that dedicated professionals face daily.
“Health care is top of mind for most British Columbians,” said Rudy Buttignol, the president and CEO of Knowledge Network Corporation. “By sharing the stories of those on the front lines, it is our hope that British Columbians will gain valuable insight into emergency health care services in our province. Documentary is an influential form of communications, one that takes observations of complex societal issues and shapes them into powerful stories that can inform and enlighten audiences.”
BC Emergency Health Services provides pre-hospital emergency services and inter-facility patient transfers throughout the province, and oversees the BC Ambulance Service and BC Patient Transfer Services.
“We’re thrilled that British Columbians will get a glimpse into the life-saving work performed by our paramedics and dispatch staff,” said Linda Lupini, the executive vice-president of BC Emergency Health Services. “Our paramedics, and the expertise and medical equipment they bring to the scene, are in many ways an extension of hospital emergency departments, and I think people will enjoy learning about the incredibly important role they play.”
Careful protocols and privacy measures were established and followed during filming and in post-production to ensure patient care was not compromised while respecting staff and patient privacy. Knowledge Network has leveraged funding from the Canada Media Fund and the TELUS Fund to help finance the project, and has partnered with B.C.-based Lark Productions to produce the documentary series, who also produced Knowledge Network’s successful documentary series Emergency Room: Life + Death at VGH, taking viewers behind the scenes in one of Canada’s busiest emergency departments.
Lark Productions’ Louise Clark and Erin Haskett serve as executive producers on the series. "Building on our rewarding relationship with Knowledge Network, we are privileged to now work with BC Emergency Health Services and share their stories," said Erin Haskett. "This is a unique opportunity to provide viewers with an inside look at the work of the paramedics and dispatchers, share their daily experiences and directly see the impact they have on our community."
The world premiere is planned for broadcast on Knowledge Network and Knowledge.ca in spring 2019.
British Columbia’s Knowledge Network is a viewer-supported public broadcaster reaching 1.4 million viewers each week throughout the province. Through television, web and mobile Knowledge Network informs, educates and broadens awareness by exploring the world from provincial and global perspectives. For more information, visit www.knowledge.ca.
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 Services. 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.
Vancouver-based Lark Productions is an award-winning boutique television production company. Established in 2010, Lark develops and produces thought-provoking scripted and unscripted content that travels internationally. The company also enjoys a distribution and development deal with NBCUniversal International. For more information visit www.larkproductions.ca.
