Dexter Hunt Report
(1997)
One of the problems
@ with using response
times as a parameter for
» decision making is the
e reliability of the mea-
surement. Because of

TriData Report (1936)
The effectiveness of this
response is compro-
mised by the processing
of emergency cails
which creates an unnec-
essary delay in dispatch-
ing fire units to critical
medical emergencies.

%
NEWS photo

WHILE the North Shore emergency response members —
both paramedics and firefighters — have managed to get
along, there is ample evidence that is not the case through-
out the Lower Mainland. It is best exemplified by excerpts
from reports prepared for the warring parties. The TriData
report (1996), prepared from the firefighters’ point of view,
and the Dexter Hunt Report (1997), the paramedics’
response, both discredit the other. Neither is unbiased and as
a result, neither can be taken at face value. However, both
hint at problems within the present system.

From page

Dispatch exa

At.the core of the problem is
B.C.’s First. Responder Program.
The program recopnizes fire depart-
ment. response times are often

WHILE an investigation of the roles of firefighters and paramedics in the provision of
pre-hospital care invariably leads to protective if not downright nasty territory, the
North Shore appears to have maintained a distance from the fray. The following is a
series of excerpts from conversations with individuals involved in the debate who praise

More ambulance

lower than those of ambulance

“West Vancouver has
Capt. Barry Camp!
Vancouver.

crews, Calls are made for the dis-
patch of both the fire department
and an ambulance to all emergency
calls with several exceptions. These
‘include calls to doctors’ offices and
those involving maternity situations.

- But according to West
Vancouver firefighters this policy is
not always followed. The inconsis-
tency prompted the West Vancouver
Firefighters’ Association to take
action in the form of running fast
week's ad.

The tension arising from the sit-
uation is understandable consider-
ing the position of various firefight-
er associations on the issue of dis-
patching. The associations favor doing away with the current
dual dispatching system in favor of s single amalgamated one.

“Their (ambulance) concern is the possibility of loss of
CUPE member dispatch jobs,” said North Vancouver District
Fire Chief Rick Grant. “I don’t think the concern is founded.”

Under the existing system, 2 call placed to 9-1-] is routed
to a regional control centre. Paramedics transfer calls to either
the police, ambulance or fire department. According to poli-
cies set out by the Greater Vancouver Regional District, it is
the contacted agency's responsibility to pass along the request
to other agencies as necessary.

Because this secondary call is not always made by paramedic
dispatchers, some firefighter associations have called for the
amalgamation of the dispatching role.

Bur CUPE's Patterson thinks tightening municipal budgets
has led some firefighters to see the writing on the wall.

“[F the municipality can afford to send them (hrefighters}

y single medical call, that’s Cadillac service.” said
Patterson.

Shore fire

an ce nt

ances.”

ambul:
in a Feb. 10 conversation at the Caulfeild fire hall m West

“As an organization we really do have a good working relationship with the North
ts.
B.C. Ambulance Service communications manager Bob Pearce on Feb. 11.

“We've always maintained a p:
North Vancouver District

“The North Vancouver fire departments have an excellent relationship wit: che ambu-
lances. :
CUPE local 873 presidext Jim Patterson on Feb. 12.

bad

fessional relationshi
fue chict Rick Grant on Feb. 11,

He went further, stating the establishment of a medical pri-
ority dispatching system would not only cnsure the dual dis-
patching system, it would also cut the number of calls attend-
ed by firefighters.

Priority dispatching involves the use of highly trained dis-
patchers manning the phones and deciding who is best suited
to respond.

The firefighters maintains that is a tough call to
make and also pla ary liability on the system.

id Patterson, the priority dispatching,
} North American centres and has “stood up to
every legal challenge.”

Buz the Distriet’s Fire Chief Grant wonders why anyone is
even concerned about the expense of sending tirelighters when
they're already on duty anyway.

“L don’t know what the gain would be in nor calling the
tire department,” said the District's Grant. “Tf it’s the service
to the cinzens that is number one, all the other things will tali
bv the was side.”

(a

service called for _

AS the turf squabbie between firefighter and
ambulance representatives continues, a North
Vancouver dispatcher working at the B.C.
Ambulance centrai dispatch centre in down- °
town Vancouver shares his take on the situa-
tion.

He paints a picture of Greater Vancouver's emergency dis-
patch centre as one where chaos sometimes runs rampant
and dispatcher stress levels approach the boiling point.

“The dispatch centre is not an exceptionally pleasant envi-
ronment to work in — high call volumes and quite honestly
not enough ambulances,” he said. :

He said Vancouver is unique in that its cadio operators,
those in touch with the crews on the road, are also emer-
gency call takers. That means a dispatcher taking an emer-
gency call from the scene will also be responsible for dis-
patching an ambulance and whatever other agency, like the
fire department, to the area.

“When a courier is struck by a truck at the corner of
Thurlow and Robson with the Starbucks there, everybody
with their Amigo phones from Christmas, phones us. We'll
get 30 calls.”

In addition, as far as he’s concerned the question of send-

UC.

the dispatcher nor sending them is negligent.
“The crux of the problem is not fire departments, it’s the
Aaumber of ambulances.”
The above submission was made under condition of
anonynity due te requlations preventing B.C. Ambulance
employers from making public comments.

— Robert Galster