New paramedic staffing models in place in Lumby, other Interior communities

Apr 10, 2024 | 1:03 PM

Lumby and 20 other Interior communities are seeing emergency response improvements with new paramedic staffing models.

As of Monday, April 1, 60 ambulance stations throughout B.C., including the 21 in the Interior, had been converted from the “scheduled-on-call” model to one of three new models that support availability, staff ambulances, and move B.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) towards a more regularized workforce.

Stations in Lumby and seven other communities have been upgraded to the 24/7 full-time “alpha” model.

This involves stations being staffed with eight full-time positions, and having paramedics working 24 hours a day.

Eight communities have transitioned to the “mix shift” model where staff is on duty twice as often as under the previous model, with 16 hours in station on duty and eight hours on call at night.

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Five other communities have adopted a model that sees a new full-time paramedic unit chief supporting on-call paramedics, allowing for more flexible staffing options.

“In our many discussions with community leaders in these rural and remote communities we heard how critically important paramedic services are to them,” Leanne Heppell, BCEHS’ Chief Ambulance Officer, stated.

“These improved paramedic staffing models and the increase in full-time and regular part-time positions together with the changes we are making to enhance community paramedicine services are an exciting investment in the health and well-being of our patients in rural and remote British Columbia.”

The other Interior communities involved in the changes were:

Alpha Model	Mix Shift Model	Unit Chief Model
Alexis Creek	Anahim Lake	Seton Portage
Clinton	Lytton	Gold Bridge
Fruitvale	Elkford	Blue River
Logan Lake	Greenwood	Edgewood
Midway	Kaslo	Field
Rossland	New Denver
Salmo	Riondel
	Winlaw

“The April 1 conversions are an important change in how we provide paramedic services in these 60 communities,” Ambulance Paramedics of BC president, Jason Jackson, stated.

“Patient care is the most important thing to us, and this new approach helps us better recruit and retain paramedics to work in these smaller communities, improve how we respond to 911 calls, and most importantly, help paramedics provide better care to our patients.”

Along with the staffing model updates, changes have been made to Community Paramedic positions, with 55 such personnel expected to focus on delivering community-based care and outreach services across the province once the positions have been filled.

by Liam Verster

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