MEMORANDUM

BCEHS Victoria Office PO Box 9600 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria BC V8W 9P1 TEL 250-953-3298 FAX 250-953-3119 1

June 11, 2015

File: 195-20/Metro Ops

Cliff: 1012345

To: Metro Operations Staff

Re: Delta Fire and Emergency Services EMR Licencing and Practice

BCEHS has been advised that Delta Firefighters have completed training and licencing through

the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation to the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

level. On the 25th May 2015 the Municipality of Delta also passed a bylaw to approve the

provision of enhanced on-scene emergency medical care by Firefighters.

Delta has taken these actions unilaterally BCEHS does not support these initiatives and has

serious concerns about their implementation.

It is BCEHS position that the Municipality of Delta is not acting in accordance with the Emergency Health Services Act and the Regulation; we are urging Delta to collaborate with us to

address the many issues that would need to be addressed before Delta Firefighters could provide

an expanded scope of services without compromising patient care. We have been informed that

Delta intends to change their practices on Monday 15th June 2015 and Delta Fire (Delta FR)

crews may undertake the following medical interventions prior to our arrival:

Delta FR staff may use Medications licenced for use by EMA-FR including:

ASA

Nitroglycerin

Nitrous Oxide

Other clinical skills that may be practiced include:

BP by auscultation/palpation

Glucometer

Emergency fracture/immobilization

Airway suction and BVM

Soft tissue injury treatment

Nasopharyngeal airway device

Delta FR staff may also hold one or more of the following endorsements:

Occupational First Aid

IV Maintenance (No Meds/Blood)

Oximeter

Medication administration using PO,

SL & Inhalation routes

Anti-anginal

Analgesic

Anti-hypoglycemic

BC Emergency Health Services - MEMORANDUM

BCEHS Victoria Office PO Box Stn Prov Govt, Victoria BC V8W 9P1 TEL 250-953-3298 FAX 250-953-3119 2

Platelet inhibitors

Chest auscultation

Our priority is always to provide the patient with the best possible care and we must ensure that

there is a continuity of care based around the patient need. This change by Delta FR may impact

both PCCP Dispatch staff and Paramedics on scene.

While we work with the Ministry of Health, our legal counsel and the Emergency Medical

Assistant Licensing Board (EMALB) to put a halt to this initiative, our expectations for BCEHS

staff are as follows:

PCCP Dispatch Staff

1. Record and action any updates from Delta FR in the normal way, recording any clinical information shared by Delta FR on scene

2. Upgrade calls in line with current practice at the request of Delta FR

Responding Paramedics

On arrival effect a full verbal handover from Delta staff using the SBAR process and

record this information on the BCEHS PCR including the name and/or ID of the person

giving the handover

Ask for a copy of the Delta FR PCR for the hospital

Record in the BCEHS PCR any interventions not captured above or any deficiencies or

concerns with the treatment given by Delta FR

Exchange any appropriate equipment noting on the BCEHS PCR what was exchanged

Transport any patients appropriately without delay or impact on their clinical care

regardless of the treatment given by Delta FR in line with BCEHS Treatment Guidelines

BCEHS staff accepting a patient will not accept any liability for the treatment given by Delta FR,

however a full and detailed assessment of all patients should be made as required in the treatment

guidelines prior to initiating any additional treatment.

We will share more information as it becomes available. We would stress that providing

appropriate, timely and quality clinical care to patients is our priority. Patient transport should

not be delayed due to the changes introduced by the Municipality of Delta.

Sincerely,

Original signed by

Jodi Jensen

Chief Operating Officer

pc: Linda Lupini, Executive Vice-President, PHSA and BCEHS

Carl Roy, President, BCEHS