Salmon Arm含羞草研究社檚 ambulance service came under scrutiny last week when it took paramedics more than 20 minutes to reach an emergency less than a kilometre away from the hospital.

Around noon on March 1, an elderly man was found face down in slush and snow by the curb on Lakeshore Drive. Members of the public and staff from the downtown Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union cared for the man and guided traffic while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

Frustration began to rise as the wait time increased. The individual who made the initial 911 call said about a half hour had passed. Five minutes after that, an ambulance finally arrived. The man was safely moved onto a stretcher and transported to Shuswap Lake General Hospital for treatment.

Loyd Ondang, local district manager with BC Ambulance Service, said the wait time was, in fact, just under 23 minutes. While he was reluctant to answer if this is acceptable, he did say he is new to the position and he含羞草研究社檒l be looking at resources, what含羞草研究社檚 working and what isn含羞草研究社檛.

含羞草研究社淪o what I含羞草研究社檝e been doing is kind of learning still about the stations and the responses and the resources that we have含羞草研究社�,含羞草研究社� said Ondang, who oversees BC Ambulance Service operations from Revelstoke to the North Okanagan. 含羞草研究社淔rom what I含羞草研究社檝e observed, so far it seems to be OK. The ultimate goal would be to have resources available all the time, full time, but that含羞草研究社檚 just not the way it is right now. That含羞草研究社檚 something I含羞草研究社檇 have to look more in-depth at.含羞草研究社�

Bronwyn Barter, a paramedic and spokesperson with the Ambulance Paramedics and Emergency Dispatchers of B.C., already has an idea of what含羞草研究社檚 afflicting Salmon Arm and other rural/urban communities in B.C.: high call volumes and not enough resources.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 our position is that the whole province should be reviewed with regard to resources because it含羞草研究社檚 our belief we含羞草研究社檙e understaffed and under-resourced含羞草研究社�,含羞草研究社� said Barter.

For Barter, the March 1 incident highlights part of this issue, a reliance on paramedics who work for $2 an hour on-call until they are paged to work.

含羞草研究社淧eople are out doing their other thing含羞草研究社� and not only do they have to respond to their vehicles, they have to respond to the station, pick up the ambulance and go to the call,含羞草研究社� said Barter. 含羞草研究社淎nd in our view含羞草研究社� that含羞草研究社檚 unacceptable.含羞草研究社�

Ondang confirmed Salmon Arm is currently served by three ambulances. One is staffed with a full-time crew, the Bravo car. The other two ambulances, Kilo One and Kilo Two, are staffed by on-call paramedics.

During the March 1 incident, Bravo and Kilo One had already been dispatched, leaving Kilo Two to respond.

含羞草研究社淪o what happens is we got the call at dispatch at 11:58 in the afternoon, and then what they do is they page out the crew,含羞草研究社� said Ondang, explaining the March 1 call was initially categorized as a routine fall response, but was upgraded to a Code 3 emergency, requiring the ambulance to travel with lights and sirens on.

Crews who receive the page, Ondang continued, are required to acknowledge the page, and then respond to the station.

Once in the ambulance, they hit a button acknowledging their presence.

含羞草研究社淟ooks like the first acknowledgment in the car was at 12:13含羞草研究社� They arrived at scene there at 12:20.含羞草研究社�

Barter says eight minutes and 59 seconds is the target ambulance response time, from page out to patient, recognized by the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada.

含羞草研究社淚t has been adopted by BC Ambulance Service in the sense that they含羞草研究社檝e recognized it in one of their reports; however, it含羞草研究社檚 not a target they are able to meet consistently. I believe that含羞草研究社檚 what we should be aiming for,含羞草研究社� said Barter.

Asked if Salmon Arm has staffing issues, Ondang said no, Salmon Arm is a desired station for employment.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a busier station, so for the part-time people, they have more opportunity to make an income here,含羞草研究社� said Ondang.

If people do have issues or a concern with the service they receive from paramedics, including the time they have to wait for an ambulance, Ondang said they can make a complaint with the province含羞草研究社檚 Patient Care and Quality Review Board.

含羞草研究社淭he ultimate goal is to provide great patient quality care, giving the patient the best care they can get. But how do we do that?含羞草研究社� said Ondang.

含羞草研究社淢y kind of approach is to talk with the union and the crew members and say, 含羞草研究社榟ey look, what含羞草研究社檚 going on? What can we do together collaboratively to make this work and make it a better place?含羞草研究社� That含羞草研究社檚 ultimately what my job is and what I want to do.含羞草研究社�