Cookies help us to understand how you use our website so that we can provide you with the best experience when you are on our site. To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.
Manage Cookies
A cookie is information stored on your computer by a website you visit. Cookies often store your settings for a website, such as your preferred language or location. This allows the site to present you with information customized to fit your needs. As per the GDPR law, companies need to get your explicit approval to collect your data. Some of these cookies are ‘strictly necessary’ to provide the basic functions of the website and can not be turned off, while others if present, have the option of being turned off. Learn more about our Privacy and Cookie policies. These can be managed also from our cookie policy page.
Strictly necessary cookies(always on):
Necessary for enabling core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. This cannot be turned off. e.g. Sign in, Language
Analytics cookies:
Analytical cookies help us to analyse user behaviour, mainly to see if the users are able to find and act on things that they are looking for. They allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. Tools used: Google Analytics
Social media cookies:
We use social media cookies from Facebook, Twitter and Google to run Widgets, Embed Videos, Posts, Comments and to fetch profile information.
Who does AHS contract Ground Ambulance services to? I thought all ambulances in Alberta were part of AHS.
EMS
in the province of Alberta has a long and successful history of using a blended
model of health authority services and contracted providers. Currently, Ground Ambulance service in
Alberta is provided by a number different organizations including Non-Profit,
Private, First Nations, Fire and Municipal.
What if the current provider in my community decides not to extend? Could my community potentially be left without ambulance services?
There will be no interruption
of ambulance services. AHS will work identify alternate service delivery
options and with contractors who would not like to extend their agreement.
There are two different types
of ambulances (Advanced and Basic) in the province of Alberta as defined under
the Emergency Health Services Act (EHSA). Each type of ambulance has a defined
scope of practice for the type of care they provide.
How is the level of serivce decided in each community?
The level of service of service in each community was
established prior to AHS assuming responsibility for EMS in 2009 at the
municipal level. AHS monitors and evaluates appropriateness of level of service
based on a variety of variables including population, call volume, call type,
unit utilization, and more.
AHS operates EMS on the principle of a borderless
system. Ambulances are centrally dispatched by AHS owned and operated dispatch
centers located in Peace River, Edmonton, and Calgary. Municipal “Satellite”
dispatch centers in Fort McMurray, Red Deer, Calgary, and Lethbridge also
support dispatching in their respective communities.
EMS revenue is partially funded by fee for service to
the users of the system. Rates for these fees are charge in accordance with
Emergency Health Services Act (EHSA) and all applicable regulations. The
remainder of the cost for EMS is funded directly through performance based
agreements by AHS.
How does AHS ensure contracted providers are providing equitable services?
All EMS contractors are required to participate in a
contract management program directly overseen by AHS EMS. This program actively
works with contracted partners to ensure services are equitable, sustainable,
and operated in a fiscally responsible manner.
AHS has performance based agreements that have
requirements for adherence to a standard set of medical protocols and quality
management system. These standards and procedures are continuously improved.
Both contracted and health authority EMS practitioners follow these standards
and are closely monitored for compliance.
Additionally the Alberta College of Paramedics (ACP) provides governance
and licensure to the Paramedicine profession in the province of Alberta.
