(file photo/Vernon Matters Staff)

By Liam Verster

60 communities

New paramedic staffing models rolled out in rural B.C. communities

Nov 9, 2023 | 1:29 PM

British Columbia’s health ministry has introduced three new staffing models aimed at is improving ambulance service in the rural and remote communities across the province.

At a news conference in Victoria Thursday, Nov. 9, Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the new models, which will replace the scheduled-on-call (SOC) system in 60 communities.

“The first model is the 24/7 Alpha model, which provides more reliable emergency health services. The 21 communities will have paramedics in station and on duty three times more than the current SOC model. It is, as the saying goes, 24/7,” Dix stated.

“We have a second model for communities even smaller than (those using the 24/7 model), which is the Mixed Shift model, which provides staff with more flexibility than the 24/7 model in smaller communities. Twenty-five communities are moving to this model, they’ll have staff on duty in the station twice as often as now.

“The third model is the On-Call model, which will have a unit chief at the station. The 14 communities transitioning to this model will have more flexible options.”

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The 24/7 Alpha model will have at least eight full time paramedics in the station and staff will be on duty 24 hours a day It will be in place in Lumby, Salmo, Gabriola Island, Gold River, Quadra Island, Boston Bar, Bowen Island, Bella Coola, Maderia Park, Clinton, Logan Lake, Alexis Creek, Fruitvale, McBride, Mackenzie, Village of Daajing Giids, Masset, Dease Lake, Fraser Lake, Tumbler Ridge.

The Mixed Shift model will require having eight regular part time staff in the stations, and staff will be on-duty for 16 hours each day and have eight hours of being on-call. This model will be used in Lytton, Alert Bay, Mayne Island, Pender Island, Port Renfrew, Galiano Island, Sayward, Tahsis, Ucluelet, Cortes Island, Denman Island, Port Alice, Bella Bella, Texada, Anahim Lake, Elkford, Greenwood, Kaslo, new Denver, Riondel, Rossland, Winlaw, Granisle, Southside, and Hudson’s Hope.

The On-Shift model will see one full time unit chief in the station and paramedics on call. The communities transitioning to this system are Sointula, Zeballos, Seton potage, Gold Bridge, Blue River, Edgewood, Field, Bear Lake, Wells, Stewart, Port Clements, Kitwanga, Sandspit, Atlin.

Dix said these new models will allow paramedics to still provide the critical care needed in their communities, but will also meet their own needs.

“Paramedics will no longer be required to work or be available to work for 72 straight hours,” Dix said.

“There will be better shifts that will allow paramedics to have a work-life balance and will help better ensure our communities are covered, especially in the evenings.”

The Health Minister stated these new models will also open up 261 new job full-time paramedic positions in rural communities and 238 full-time equivalent jobs throughout the province.

The new models were developed in collaboration with B.C. Emergency Health Services, Ambulance Paramedics and Dispatchers of B.C. (CUPE 873), and First Nations and municipal leaders.

“With this announcement today, thanks to our members’ hard work and a collaborative approach to improving deployment and staffing, we will see a renewed commitment to full time resources across the province in dozens of our remote communities,” Jason Jackson, president of Ambulance Paramedics and Dispatchers of B.C., said Thursday.

“In other areas we’ll see flexible modeling with full time unit chiefs that will allow us to focus on supporting recruitment and retention in paramedic services.”

Jackson added this is a “fundamental change” in how EHS is provided in rural communities and will address and improve response time, attraction and retention, and patient care.

It was not stated when these changes would take effect. Vernon Matters has reached out to BCEHS to learn when the models would be put in place.