Provincial Ambulance Program to be Reviewed

Access to quality ambulance services in all areas of the province is essential to the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. In an effort to further enhance the Provincial Ambulance Program, the Provincial Government is undertaking an external operational review of the program. A Request for Proposals (RFP) is being issued today (Thursday, May 24) to seek an external consultant to carry out the work.

“The goal of this review is to ensure the Provincial Ambulance Program is as effective and efficient as possible, to best serve the needs of the people of the province,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services. “We know that we have a very competent and reliable ambulance program, and through this review we plan to identify ways to improve its overall efficiency. Our government acknowledges that access to quality ambulance services is particularly important in rural and remote areas of the province. This review will help us collect information, analyze the data and identify areas within the entire ambulance program that can be enhanced or better utilized.”

The RFP outlines the deliverables that would be expected of the external consultant arising from the review, including:

• Analyze the ambulance programs’ established standards and performance delivery criteria when compared to best practises and standards in other jurisdictions;
• Review the ambulance programs’ governance structure including roles and responsibilities;
• Based on current and predicted ambulance demand, review and make recommendations to the road ambulance program’s operational delivery model;
• Identify and make recommendations regarding ambulance staffing strategies that correspond to potential changes to program standards and the operational delivery model;
• Identify ambulance technology and information systems that can improve performance monitoring and aid in service delivery;
• Analyze and make recommendations on the integration of the existing fixed and rotary wing ambulance programs with the road ambulance program to more effectively and efficiently transfer patients around the province; and,
• If program changes are recommended, outline an implementation strategy to move from the current to the proposed new program.

The operational review of the Provincial Ambulance Program will include discussions with stakeholders, development of service delivery criteria, delivery option analysis, and the development of recommendations. The review will look at the three ambulance programs utilized in the province - road ambulances, fixed and rotary wing air ambulance services.

“The services provided by the Provincial Ambulance Program impact tens of thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians every year,” said Minister Sullivan. “Evidence has shown that quality pre-hospital care positively impacts patient outcomes. This review will help coordinate our existing assets to more efficiently move patients throughout the province. By identifying the strengths of our current system we can further enhance ambulance services to all residents.”

Details of the RFP are posted on the Provincial Government website – www.gpa.gov.nl.ca 

The Provincial Government invests approximately $52 million annually in the Provincial Ambulance Program that is used to transport thousands of people in the province each year. The road ambulance program provides 65,000 transfers per year and utilizes 50 different road ambulance operators and 11 hospital-based operations. The fixed wing program provides approximately 1,200 patient transfers per year using two King Air 350s stationed in St. John’s and Happy Valley-Goose Bay and a contracted jet to supplement the King Airs when undergoing maintenance, and to do out-of-province transfers. In addition, the rotary wing program provides an average of 150 medical flights per year and uses six leased helicopters located in St. John’s, Gander, St. Albans, Pasadena and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

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Media contact:
Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 699-6524
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca

2012 05 24                              4:30 p.m.