SASKATOON — The Government of Saskatchewan is allocating $700,000 in 2023-24 and $2.6 million annually to help address growing demands for emergency medical services (EMS) in Saskatoon.
Saskatoon will receive two additional ambulances staffed 24 hours a day/seven days a week, as well as an additional community paramedic 12 hours a day/seven days a week.
Over the past five years, Saskatoon has experienced a 33 per cent increase in EMS call volumes. This has periodically resulted in longer response times, according to the Ministry of Health.
The additional ambulances will help relieve pressure on current EMS resources, improve response times to calls and help support rural EMS services waiting to transfer patients into Saskatoon.
Medavie Health Services West is contracted by the Saskatchewan Health Authority to provide EMS services for Saskatoon and surrounding areas, and will start recruitment for the additional staff resources immediately.
"As a health solutions partner, receiving these increased resources will continue to provide the residents of Saskatoon with timely and appropriate high-quality care,” Medavie Health Services - West Chief Operating Officer and Regional Director Gerry Schriemer said.
“Our operations teams are finalizing their deployment plans to ensure these resources are effectively utilized to make the biggest impact to the citizens we serve. We expect the first resources to start as soon as early January."
Community paramedics provide support to primary health care, people living in personal care homes, cancer patients and the seniors first program. The community paramedic program in Saskatoon has demonstrated high success rates in treating less urgent (lower acuity) patients within the community, for example performing dressing changes, administering IV antibiotics, collecting blood, providing medication assistance or treating patients with flu-like symptoms. Community paramedics can also assist with patient flow and early emergency department discharge by providing supports to patients while waiting to get connected to supports within the community.
