An ambulance authority in central Alberta is warning that the risk of burnout among its paramedics will worsen if the service can’t secure a satisfactory new contract with Alberta Health Services.
Negotiations between AHS and the Stettler District Ambulance Association began in March, Justin Stevens, board chair for the ambulance association, said in an interview. The current contract is set to expire Sept. 1.
The association operates two ambulances, providing advanced life support service to communities in the Stettler region.
One crew works on the “core-flex” scheduling model, while the other ambulance is staffed by paramedics working 12-hour shifts.
Stevens said the association wants to move away from core-flex scheduling in its next contract with AHS, but said the health authority has not agreed.
Fear that staff may leave
Core-flex requires paramedics to work four consecutive days, followed by four days off.
Working paramedics can leave the station but have to be able to respond to a call within eight minutes, Stevens said.
“Hypothetically, if you lived within two to three blocks of the ambulance station, you could go home and see your family, but practically it’s just not an option,” Stevens told CBC’s Edmonton AM.
“There’s no work-life balance to our staff.”
He said there is a concern that if paramedics continue to have to work on the core-flex model, they might leave for jobs with better hours elsewhere.
An AHS spokesperson said AHS does not discuss details of its contracts.
“Negotiations are ongoing, and no final decision has been made at this time,” Heather Kipling, communications director for the central zone, said in a statement.
“We continue working with Stettler District Ambulance Association on an agreement that will meet the needs of the community.”
Stettler Mayor Sean Nolls said the contract negotiation and the shortage of doctors in the region are contributing to burnout among paramedics.
“They work really hard in our community,” he said.
The ambulance association, a non-profit, provides service to Stettler, Stettler County, Ross Haven, White Sands, Big Valley and Donalda. In addition to responding to emergency calls, it does inter-facility transfers and provides medical standby for rodeos and other events.
The association hires its own staff, has its own safety policies, and provides its own equipment.
AHS provides the association with $2.58 million in annual funding, Stevens said. That amounts to 95 per cent of the organization’s funding. The remainder comes through fundraising.
Stettler County subsidizes fuel, rent, insurance and mechanical repairs.
Stevens said switching from the flex-core model would require more funding as labour costs would go up. The association has 12 full-time staff, but after the switch they would have to increase to 16.
Justin Stevens is the chair of Stettler District Ambulance Association board. (Submitted by County of Stettler)
Stevens said the association first signed a five-year contract with AHS in 2012
In 2017, AHS offered an extension to the existing contract instead of a renewal. Other renewals have happened six more times over the years, he said.
“They just keep on extending it and extending it,” he said.
The association is having trouble hiring staff or ordering equipment due to the short-term extensions, he said.
‘Glimmer of hope’
Stevens said the association is concerned that if an agreement is not reached by Sept. 1, AHS would take over emergency medical services in the area.
However, he said he remains hopeful that a deal will be reached.
Health Minister Adriana LaGrange met with the community on July 4 to discuss the doctor shortage and the ambulance contract negotiations.
“That does give me a glimmer of hope,” Stevens said.
He said there are benefits to having the ambulance association, which employs advanced-care paramedics.
“In rural settings, there is tremendous value because they have additional training and additional drugs they can administer,” he said.
AHS says it also has advanced-care units throughout central Alberta that work alongside partners like the ambulance association.
LISTEN | Stettler District Ambulance Association seeks new contract with AHS:
