Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

By rdnewsNOW staff

STARS

Alberta government elevating emergency medical service response

Jun 4, 2024 | 5:24 PM

Alberta’s government has finalized a new, Alberta-based air rescue contract that aims to ensure emergency air rescue services continue.

Government officials say air ambulances play a critical role in Alberta’s health care system. Officials note, they serve as vital lifelines, bridging geographical barriers and providing quick access to specialized care during medical emergencies. Their rapid response capabilities and ability to swiftly transport patients to medical facilities can often mean the difference between life and death, officials point out.

The government says it is committed to delivering exceptional emergency air rescue services to Albertans and has entered a 10-year contract with Shock Trauma Air Rescue Services (STARS). According to provincial officials, the new contract will ensure emergency medical services (EMS) remain available across the province. The government says STARS has been instrumental in delivering fast and effective emergency medical response services to Albertans, especially those who live in rural and remote communities, and this agreement strives to ensure this will continue.

“Every Albertan deserves access to the best-quality health care, no matter where they are in our province, and STARS helps us provide that,” says Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta. “Through STARS, we are better able to connect Albertans in rural and remote communities to critical health care services, improving patient outcomes and providing assurance to families. This new agreement means Albertans can rely on another 10 years of the iconic, red helicopters with their highly skilled medical professionals responding to crises wherever they happen.”

The government says this performance-based agreement marks a significant milestone in the province’s commitment to ensuring timely access to life-saving care for Albertans. Equipped with a fleet of air ambulances and highly skilled medical personnel, officials note that STARS holds a unique position, able to tackle the challenges of delivering emergency medical services across the province. The partnership is expected to leverage the expertise and operational excellence of STARS to optimize response times and improve patient outcomes in communities where access to health care services is limited.

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“We are proud to announce this partnership with STARS, which represents a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to strengthen emergency medical services in remote and rural areas,” adds Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health. “This 10-year contract underscores our commitment to ensuring that all Albertans have access to timely and high-quality health care, when and where they need it.”

The province says this long-term collaboration with STARS is a commitment by Alberta’s government to ensure Albertans, particularly those in rural and remote communities, have an EMS system that responds effectively to medical emergencies.

The government notes that STARS has a proven track record of delivering exceptional care under challenging circumstances, and this partnership is expected to reinforce its position as a cornerstone of Alberta’s EMS network. Officials say the new contract aims to set new standards for emergency medical response and improve outcomes for patients across the province by stabilizing air ambulance services and strengthening health care delivery across Alberta.

“Albertans across the province face challenges accessing health care,” says Martin Long, parliamentary secretary for rural health. “In locations with limited road infrastructure, air ambulance operations are critical to support urgent and emergent health care needs. This 10-year contract will provide a new era of resilience and preparedness in communities.”

“We are deeply grateful for the continued support from the Government of Alberta, enabling us to provide life-saving care wherever it’s needed across the province, for many years to come,” shares Katherine Emberly, president and CEO, STARS. “Our roots run deep in Alberta, and for nearly 40 years, we’ve relied on the unwavering support from our government partners and the communities we serve to grow, evolve and deliver on our mission, every day.”

Alberta government quick facts

• STARS is a helicopter air ambulance organization that provides rapid and specialized emergency medical care and transportation for critically ill and injured patients.
• STARS operates its own dispatch centre, the Emergency Link Centre, at the Calgary International Airport, which dispatches all helicopter ambulance flights in Alberta. STARS dispatch works closely with provincial air and ground ambulance dispatch and the rest of the provincial emergency medical services system.
• STARS attends emergencies and interfacility patient transfers frequently, upon request by EMS crews and other first responders.
• STARS provides air ambulance services from bases in Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie. It functions as its own rotary-wing aircraft provider and supplies its own air medical crews made up of specially trained flight paramedics, flight nurses and transport physicians.