The union representing paramedics in Winnipeg says its members are waiting longer to offload patients at hospitals.
Last year the average offload time was about 64 minutes, while this year it’s reached 74 minutes.
"We will run out of ambulances on a regular basis. The fear that we have is those patients, those citizens that need care – and there isn't an ambulance to send,” said Chris Broughton, president of Paramedics of Winnipeg, MGEU Local 911.
In the first six months of 2012, paramedics waited more than 6,800 hours in hospitals, with the longest times noted at Health Sciences Centre and St. Boniface Hospital.
"This is a real issue in terms of the impact it has on our ability to deliver service and ensure we have units available,” said Christian Schmidt, acting deputy chief of EMS operations.
Last year, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service began charging the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority a penalty fee - $113 for every hour paramedics spend waiting after a 90-minute period.
In April, they started billing after 60 minutes.
So far, the WRHA has been forced to pay close to $800,000 in fines. The money comes from the WRHA’s operating budget.
“From a financial standpoint, we don’t like having to spend money on this. I’m a taxpayer like everyone else,” said Real Cloutier, WRHA chief operating officer.
CTV News is told the penalty funds paid to the fire paramedic service get put back into the system.
The WRHA believes the problem lies in emergency room demand.
In the past five years, there’s been a 13 per cent growth in ER visits.
Some officials say the solution resides in reducing non-urgent patient visits to the ER.
“We have to get at that percentage of individuals that are using hospitals because they have no other choice. It’s not that they are making wrong decisions; it’s just that they don’t have a choice after 5 p.m.,” said Cloutier.
Solutions proposed including having patients visit quick-care clinics, rather than emergency rooms.
The fire paramedic service feels that might help, but more is needed.
"Likely, there is not going to be one particular area that's going to be worked on. We are probably looking at major system change in order to rectify this problem,” said Christian Schmidt.
Other means aimed at reducing the offload times have also been implemented with paramedics waiting with two patients at a time, in order to allow another paramedic crew to get back on the street responding to calls. When possible, respite therapists are also brought in as relief.
Offload Cost Numbers
|
Monthly Total - May 2012 |
Count of |
Billable |
Billable |
Billable |
|
Children's Hospital Total |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
|
ConcordiaHospitalTotal |
68 |
3,364.02 |
56.07 |
6,391.98 |
|
Grace General Hospital Total |
191 |
15,413.45 |
256.89 |
29,285.46 |
|
Health Sciences Centre Total |
337 |
35,364.50 |
589.41 |
67,192.74 |
|
Misericordia Urgent Care Centre Total |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
|
Seven Oaks General Hospital Total |
161 |
11,222.70 |
187.05 |
21,323.70 |
|
St.Boniface General Hospital Total |
216 |
29,086.63 |
484.78 |
55,264.92 |
|
Victoria General Hospital Total |
111 |
6,803.08 |
113.38 |
12,925.32 |
|
Monthly Total |
1,084 |
101,254.38 |
1,687.58 |
192,384.12 |
|
Monthly Total - June 2012 |
Count of |
Billable |
Billable |
Billable |
|
Children's Hospital Total |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
|
ConcordiaHospitalTotal |
68 |
2,787.77 |
46.46 |
5,296.44 |
|
Grace General Hospital Total |
208 |
16,926.17 |
282.10 |
32,159.40 |
|
Health Sciences Centre Total |
282 |
29,087.53 |
484.79 |
55,266.06 |
|
Misericordia Urgent Care Centre Total |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
|
Seven Oaks General Hospital Total |
169 |
9,306.58 |
155.11 |
17,682.54 |
|
St.Boniface General Hospital Total |
183 |
15,803.03 |
263.38 |
30,025.32 |
|
Victoria General Hospital Total |
120 |
9,041.22 |
150.69 |
17,178.66 |
|
Monthly Total |
1,030 |
82,952 |
1,383 |
157,608.42 |
Source: City of Winnipeg
