a_shane2_go

lol Mobey. Click on the AHS website they have postings all the time. Then transfer to the division you want. BUT i'd go down south

I think its going to be a good thing overall for Alberta, especially people and EMS in rural Alberta. The only thing i'm not looking forward to is the coming micro management....more ego's more useless work and more bossing around. Thats why i work rural to begin with!

So it's been just over a month since the take over of ambulance services by the provincial government under Alberta Health Services. http://www.albertahealthservices.ca Some people have had to sign an agreement etc about not talking about wages etc. (Nothing here yet: P) So I’m just wondering how the transition is going for people around Alberta? For us it is definitely growing pains with a new dispatch, they don’t get how we run as all the other services are only 24 hours, and we have 12's and another aspect to cover with. And took over a month to "Fix" (have to see when i get back) our private radio channels not working. (We didn’t like having to listen to 5+ divisions on the same channel 24/7) Other then that, still operating under our old contract and getting paid a little less then the surround people. Have voted and become a member of HSAA awaiting bargaining last i heard. And just recently stated our new "matrix" of shifts where there is 4 crews on all the time and rotates first up 2nd up etc between 4 crews still two 12 hour shifts. (And awaiting switching from 7 on 7 off with a few people 4 on 4 off, to possible 8 on 8 off or 4 on 4 off) How's everyone else's transition going?

Yes i J, i am saying that somewhere went without any coverage for emerg at all for 45 mins, ALS or BLS. (Of course it was 45 min in town and 1.5 hours for the east side of our MD. but that would of NEVER of happened pre-AHS unless the emerg car in town had gotten sent out... and that BLS crew could of taken the BLS transfer rather then an ALS crew.... I think some education may help this problem.. dispatch seems confused at times with this new system.

Sounds like a medevac? PFCC (the Provincial Flight Coordination Center) Does stay in contact with hospitals, and if the crews are not busy up here in the north and not being bagged, PFCC will call around to the hospitals for returns. I've gone 300km out of my way many a time for returns for all types of flights when we are going back empty. And they will also cut our "vacation wait" short if an emerg call comes in when all the planes in the north are busy. Or when we can make it there just as fast as another crew from another area. So this was utilized even before AHS exsisted. Hurray for Alberta Health and Wellness Well its taken all of 16 days for the AHS promise that i was told that there will be no reduction in services to go up in dust. Region A's 2nd up (transfer) crew (ALS) was sent out. And then region A's Day crew (also ALSO) was sent on a non STAT ground transfer that would usually be sent by plane (and injuries warranted it to reduce the long haul to the city) Which left 0 ambulances left to respond in region A. Before region B's BLS crew could get to region A was 45 mins. But region A's day crew was told to leave before B's even left. So region A which has always had a crew (and 90 percent of the time ALS availible) was left with no coverage in town and and over an hour and a half to the east side of region A. This never happend pre AHS and shows the "importance" of ground transfers.... Hell will be paid if any of my family or friends is hurt and waits 45 mins for an ambulance because someone thinks a non STAT ground transfer is more important then responding to emerg calls.

Happy Easter Although i dont have kids yet. I cant wait to stuff them full of candy then send them outside lol Stay safe people

Wow good job Calgary EMS! Fire fighters are commended all the time for administering oxygen or ventilations/CPR on pets, so whats the difference? If they would consider this a waste of resources how come it is a waste for other treatments? Again good job.

I got a 10 dollar tims gift card woohoo i'm special'r! But on a side note, it'll be a dollar an hour increase in my wage as it stands once we go to HSAA contact. For now we're with our old contract and going to bargan a new one and try and take our good things of our old contract (like higher amount of sick and vacation time) and play them into our contract talks, if and when they come around. And there seems to be a lot less STAT days in the old PCH contract then our current contract. And only 1.5 time for STAT days rather then our current double time (at least OT is still double)

I've worked many a 24 hour shift in rural alberta. The two types i've worked are 1st up 2nd up 24 hours on. (if the call volume jusify's it) I've worked 10 hours paid and 12 hours paid, later better regaurdless of hours worked. Best i like is the crew house thats a block from the hospital and 5 min response time for all calls. The other was in hourse 10's and 14's and then STILL on call after that in house time.... (didnt really like but did a lot of sleeping and had ample time off.) that was for a 1300calls/ year service and 6 days on 6 days off. best shift i've like is curently. 3 shifts, days 12 hours nights 12 hours and one backup crew 24 hours on call from home, if called they do ground transfer first or come and sit in office if out of town call takes first or 2nd crew out. this is for again about 1300 calls a year. (we also have another 24 hour crew- medivac crew) but this wont apply to your model.

Hate to be the one to brake my own rule. But i've HEARD the intergrated services are mostly staying to municiple control under provincial funding but have 18 months to 24 months before they are seperated and EMS is run by AHS. If anyone knows from an integrated service please comment!

There is no such protocol where I work for excited delirium. Being in rural Alberta I have never seen this before on the street. However I have sat in on an RCMP tazer training session where they talked in length and I explained the changes that happen with this condition. (Blood PH etc.) To the best of my ability without being prepared to answer questions. The training officer there for the RCMP mentioned that EMS have started protocols in BC (Vancouver?) area and the success rate for bringing pt's back or at least "saving" them is very high. As for physical restraint, the only time we can justify it is of course if we fear for our safety, or with my familiarization of laws, assisting a peace officer, and I would be with Alberta legislation if the pt say has actual LIFE-THREATENING injuries and not in the right state of mind to make a sound decision until RCMP arrive. I'm quite comfortable with restraining pt's or those on scene's, not to say i ever have other then the head injury pt held down for an IV or the drunk 70 year old slapping around my female partner and female student in the back of the unit. Soft restraints

Thought I should start a new topic as we get closer to the date, as the other topic is getting quite long. But update from even yesterday. I filled out my papers to be an employee of Alberta Health Services yesterday and also there is some work being done by some to join a union by employee's not management. I also read the manual of being a AHS employee, signed on the dotted line and filled out other paperwork. Seems like this is really going to happen at least here come April 1st.

In the final days before the mighty April 1st transition deadline originally set by the province to take over EMS in Alberta coming up. I'm wondering if anyone else here in Alberta has heard what is going on with their service or funding for it. Here at work we are going to become funded by Alberta come April one. The re-decaling of units and new uniforms are not top priority. However we are trying to get E-PCR's here (finally) by April 1. (They will probably get in by then, but not set up and trained.) We have our new protocols (Those of PCH) We have books and are being tested on them for April 1. It was decided at a meeting i attended a month and a half ago that the Ambulance Society I work for will no longer be funded by the municipality and that the province will be taking over funding April 1. Officially I will be working for Alberta Health Services - North/ (North Division) We are currently waiting to see if we will continue under our current agreement (Great 3 years ago, behind now.) We are looking at union with HSAA following PCH or Palliser. VIA the local paper the municipality is looking at getting reimbursed for the purchase of new ambulance(s) recently bought. All the information above has been released to the local media. Please try and keep discussion to FACTS and not "I think" or "I heard."

Early on in my career I worked in the oil patch and received some basic safety training, and our MTC's (Mobile Treatment Centers) and once in a while a 4x4 ambulance would be on a rig site with the potential for release of hydrocarbons, H2S and other hazardous materials. (Acids, etc.) Both diesels (99% of light+heavy trucks used when I was working) and half the trucks i was working in had a shut off switch for the intake of the engine. (So that if there was a release, the truck would not in theory cause a spark to open air causing it to go BOOM.) And once I tested out how far it would go after pushing the button, probably 3 or 4km before the engine crapped out. (And I learned I had to disengage it by throwing the hood up and manually placing the closing mechanism near the throttle body to the open position.) lol Anyways I don’t see a problem with gas engines for ambulance. Because if we are in a potential environment for ignition, both have the potential to ignite and we are in way over our head unless we are dual trained in HAZMAT (or fire?) These were also sites who had a dedicated gas analyzer on staff and intrinsic radio's which most ambulances don’t carry as they can "technically" have a potential to spark. (Again fire may carry these) but most private operators wont dish out the extra money when they are not generally needed for EMS side of things. I am far from a mechanic (I do all my own maintenance on my truck) and this is only from my personal experience, hope I provided some insight

My service has two 2007 ford's with a 6.0 L powerstroke. Both have had problems with turbo's leaking, one engine replaced and overheating issues. (Overheating due to broken rad, not engine.) (both around at 100,00km, so 60,000miles) And we have a 2008 Chev diesel which seems to have loads more power, passing, accelerating off the line. And just everywhere through the whole power-band. The ride in the back is amazing for a unit (it is our newest but even now at 40,000km i can compare it when our fords were at the same km) And guess what Chev wins with ride yet again. We've have electrical issues with our ambulance (due to the conversion company not the chassis of the unit itself) Which were under warranty. All in all? The Chev is our first up unit as the best ride, and power. My other employer who is a casual emerge company has a 4500, 2008 Chev gas. (not sure the engine size) But I definitely prefer driving it, better throttle response (No turbo to spin up) and the same great ride as our Chevy. (It has 80,000km, so rough est. 45,000miles) But again the amount of gas the thing sucks up is ludicrous. My conclusion? From working on car, Chev for the pt's sake and ours (ride quality) and ride quality. We seem to have as many problems mechanically with the fords as the Chev's. Last quick note, here in northern Canada where we have minus 40 without wind-chill ( same in both Celsius and Fahrenheit) for a week or two at a time. There seems to be a recently shift in oil-patch trucks for less problems. (Having to idle a diesel all night to keep it running) And thus increasing running hours of vehicle and other problems running diesel in cold climates. (Although they burn nothing even of high idle over 12 hours.) For the record I own and drive a Ford in truck country. 1/2 tons? Ford. Ambulance for me and my pt? Chev now if only Chevy can keep afloat...

I know how it feels with medic school and full time work. Just remember its cheaper to eat some debt and go part time when it gets really tough and near finals then to re-take the course. So put your priorities first. Oh and drinking and studying DOES work, just keep it light for the first hour lol then enjoy

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Already said it before in chat, now i say it after HAPPY B DAY

In shcool I received only hand to hand training which consisted of pressure points, take downs, and defending yourself on the ground etc. The only weapons "training" was in a book which told me the difference between cover and concealment. (Bush vs your ambulances engine block or wheels.) None of which would help in this situation and no one at my rural service wears a vest. (Where level II's which Calgary and Edmonton are useless against majority of weapons out here which are hunting rifles.) But in this case would of stopped the 9mm(?) which this person had. (If he shot their chest.) Glad they are safe hopefully this is the first and last incident in Alberta for some time.

I normally do read my weekly local paper But I’ve been in Lac la Biche for 2 weeks worth of paramedic school and mid term exams and scenario testing and worked on my 2 days off so this development has been going on while I’ve been away. I just read the article before even seeing this post. So yes over exaggeration on the not getting a pay cheque thing of course: P (Which was not mentioned in the article. (I was paid last night and will continue to be.) The simple solution to generate revenue? Get my reserve back into our service area (Yes MY actual band so I can comment on it), decrease available resources for half BS calls but generate the revenue. On the plus side we are closer then the service who is serving them now and they do of course have legitimate calls and life threatening calls. But at this point I’m just happy I’m getting paid and the great service I work for and which we provide is not private and better for my town and MD. I will be here for some time working and providing a service to the community: D (And northern and southern Alberta, NWT, BC VIA the plane.) http://www.lakesideleader.com/newsroom/vol...217/story1.html And for now i am all but a pawn in Alberta's transition to provincial based ambulance service woohoo!

Hmmm this is odd to hear this from other sources. Legally i should be still paid (alberta labour laws, they have to go into debt, or so i'm told.) I havn't heard of any of this. The only thing i can think this deals with is with the transition in alberta we were not sure if the MD/town was going to keep funding the society until april however it was looked after(Non-profit organization) and i was told they are going to keep funding us until the planned april switch. (And now alberta has NEARLY passed a bill (3rd reading passed) (not sure which one but will fine town's/ servies that do not continue service if the province decalres them to as they need time to expand, or they will be fined 100,000$). As for the pay i guess i'll find out tonight at midnight if i get paid or not time to bank out my OT!

Now i think i know who you are freak

This also came on this morning in Canada. I have read about the others online but never saw it on local world news before. My heart goes out to the family of those involved.

My first call was trauma. An owner of a trucking company was working on one of his big rigs. (Semi's as you americans call em) And a foreign co worker of his who could hardly speak any english at all jumped in the truck not knowing he was underneath and drove away. The owner managed to scramble from under it, or at least mostly. He ended up catching both ankles under the non-loaded (but still extremely heavy) rig. Needless to say his employee did not have a job anymore and to this date i have seen many, more-injured patients but non presented with the classic "shock" signs as this one did. lol And to date i have yet to see any first aiders place a "casualty" in the recovery position like he was in and to boot covered in a blanket.

Ultimatley its our call, if patient does not want to go we cant assult him. If we think they should go, encourage and of course if they are not mentally fit to make that decision police time. The only tricky one seems to be in case of Hypoglycemia. I was reading our policy the other day, our patient must meet all of 8 types of criteria to be signed off, which seems none would unless you stay on scene for a lengthy amount of time. So it seems we must transport all of these cases. I know for other services i worked for i was comfortable if they have multiple incidents as such and family to take care of them afterwards and just needed a snack and not even oral glucose.