Emergency Medical Services Development Project

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Development Project report is an independent analysis of Saskatchewan's EMS system. The project was headed by two co-leaders, external to government, with expertise in EMS - Rick Keller, partner in Fitch & Associates EMS Consultants, Kansas City, Missouri and Dr. Jim Cross, Chief of Emergency Medicine, Prince Albert Health District.

The report makes 24 recommendations, including options to:

• provide consistent emergency response times for patients;
• increase the availability of ambulance personnel with advanced skill training, particularly in the rural and remote areas;
• ensure equitable ambulance rates for all Saskatchewan residents; and
• update and upgrade the ambulance fleet across the province.

The report also calls for an increase in ambulance coverage areas where staff are on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, rather than being on-call.

The government received the report in November 2000. Before making any decisions on the recommendations, government is seeking feedback from EMS stakeholders. In addition, the report has been given to the Commission on Medicare so it can be factored into the Commission's deliberations.