More paramedics are on staff on Gabriola Island, providing a more consistent and resilient level of care amid increasing call volumes. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

first response

New staffing model on Gabriola Island hires local paramedics for enhanced patient care

Apr 25, 2024 | 5:29 AM

GABRIOLA ISLAND — A new staffing model for first responder paramedics on Island is proving a more resilient level of care.

BC Emergency Health Services, through funding from the provincial government, transitioned Gabriola Island and 21 other rural and remote communities to a 24/7 Alpha shift model.

It means a total of 10 paramedics will work shifts in pairs and staff the local ambulance station around the clock. It’s a “move in the right direction” for Chris Watkins, BC EHS clinical operations manager for the Island-Central District.

“With the previous model, those evening into early morning emergency events we were still utilizing an on call response. It can take time time to get paramedics to the station because they’re typically responding from their homes within community. There really is no convenient time for an emergency to happen and now we can provide fast response at any given time.”

Eight of the 10 positions have already been filled, with a ninth due immintently.

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Watkins said the roster will finalize in the next round of provincial postings and he anticipates someone will be hired in the early to mid summer.

Six of the eight hires to date were already living on Gabriola Island, including three who were working on the previous part time model.

“In terms of retention, we want people to be community based already and this really allows for stabilization in staffing and retention…as we’re hiring people that live in community, support community and are invested in their community and now have full-time positions in the community.”

Paramedics responded to 684 “patient events” in 2023, according to Watkins, including 176 which were deemed life threatening.

Watkins said the call volumes on Island, combined with a signficantly more resilient and quality level of care, means local paramedics are prepared for anything.

“It adds surge capacity so if we do see those influxes through the summer…we have the resources in place for that. We [also] have the ability to get out into the community, engage with our external partners, collaborate with them on a more proactive basis, create simulations.”

In addition to more full-time paramedics, BC EHS also hired a number of community-based, on-call paramedics who will help fill any gaps in service, as well as operate a ‘kilo’ ambulance for additional coverage.

The ‘kilo’ car could be used in a variety of situations including patient transfer or extra help at high-demand patient events.

News of the 24/7 staffing model for paramedics was well received by Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department chief Will Sprogis.

Local firefighters were becoming increasingly tasked with spending more time and resources at medical calls, waiting until ambulance service became available.

“We’ve been pushing for this for about two years now. You’ll see us working together as a team, we’ll end up responding to almost as many [medical calls]. The big thing is just speeding up better patient care, they’ll have a 90 second response if they’re not on an additional call.”

Gabriola firefighters underwent emergency medical responder training in 2022 and have at least one member on staff at all times accredited to handle serious medical calls.

Sprogis said of their 564 call outs in 2023, roughly 70 per cent were medical in nature.

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