Manitoba Marks EMS Week at Grand Opening of a New Station in Altona
May 18, 2010
ALTONA – A new $700,000 emergency medical services (EMS) station which will support the region’s paramedics as they provide critical care to residents was officially opened here today at a ceremony attended by Health Minister Theresa Oswald.“This investment will improve services for residents and paramedics while building on Manitoba’s commitment to renewing key health-care infrastructure in rural communities.” said Oswald. “As we celebrate EMS Awareness Week, it’s important to recognize the critical role of our paramedics in situations where every minute counts.”
The 2,176-square-foot building includes green features such as a geothermal heating and cooling system. It will house the local ambulance as well as a meeting room, kitchen and crew quarters.
“We are pleased with the community’s eagerness and look forward to their continued support in ensuring emergency medical services to the region,” said Kathy McPhail, chief executive officer of Regional Health Authority – Central Manitoba. “The new EMS station is a result of the tremendous collaborative efforts by the region and various levels of government.”
The minister also noted that Emergency Medical Services Awareness Week has been proclaimed from May 16 to 22 to recognize the life-saving work of the province’s emergency medical services professionals. There are over 1,900 licensed EMS providers serving communities across the province.
The minister said Manitoba continues to make important investments in emergency medical services including:
· $550,000 to purchase and install automated vehicle location (AVL) units in the provincial ambulance fleet to improve central dispatching and the safety of paramedics and patients;
· $9.7 million to purchase and retrofit a replacement Lifeflight jet that will provide life-saving medical care and transportation from isolated rural hospitals and nursing stations to care centres in Winnipeg;
· $10 million to purchase 39 new and replacement road ambulances for communities across the province, permanently hire additional paramedics provincewide and partner with Red River College to deliver a primary-care paramedic program at the college’s main campus and at three rural and northern sites;
· approximately $10.4 million to construct 24 emergency medical stations since 1999 in communities including Gypsumville, Lundar, Ashern, Selkirk, West St. Paul, Morden/Boundary Trails, Swan River, Dauphin, Minnedosa, Rivers, Ste. Anne, The Pas and Arborg;
· $7.8 million to develop the Medical Transportation Co-ordination Centre in Brandon, the dedicated centre for the dispatch of all rural and northern medical services including inter-facility transfers; and
· an estimated $7 million each year to fund the full patient cost of inter-facility transports.
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