A merger between Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Fire Department is being explored in Chatham-Kent.
Ken Stuebing, fire paramedic chief in C-K, provided a presentation earlier this month to council outlining details about his proposed plan to amalgamate the two services.
Meanwhile, a petition has been launched by paramedics in Chatham-Kent, which details their displeasure and strong opposition to joining forces with the firefighters.
Fire and EMS service review
With the contract for C-K’s current EMS provider, Medavie, set to expire at the end of 2016, Stuebing provided a presentation to council on May 16, outlining his finding of a service review of Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services.
Stuebing proposed three potential models for moving forward:
– 1) Model A – Status Quo: Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services remains as is and EMS delivered by a third party service provider under contract to the Municipality. CK will remain one of the few municipalities in the province to employ this type of EMS service delivery model.
– 2) Model B – Direct Delivery Model: EMS delivered directly through the formation of a third emergency service of unionized municipal workers (Police, Fire and EMS under the municipal umbrella), managed and administered with an integrated Fire and EMS management team.
– 3) Model C – Direct Delivery Model: A fully blended, composite Fire and EMS service under one service delivery umbrella.
Stuebing said in his report a fully blended, composite Fire and EMS service under one service delivery umbrella (Model C) “results in the most savings and efficiencies with regards to both executive, administrative and front line staff.
“The development of a new emergency response organization that blends Fire and EMS into one composite organization with full-time staff that are cross-trained and able to respond as either a firefighter or a paramedic,” Stuebing said.
He added jurisdictions that have utilized some or all of this model effectively, include: Brandon and Thompson in Manitoba, Red Deer, Lethbridge and Strathcona County in Alberta and many other jurisdictions in the United States.
Many paramedics were in attendance at the May 16 council meeting, and a presentation was also provided by Steve Pancino, general manager for the Medavie operation in Chatham-Kent.
Council asked staff to investigate
Council passed a motion by West Kent Coun. Bryon Fluker to investigate and negotiate with respective parties about Model B and Model C.
Council also approved an amendment by Chatham Coun. Derek Robertson to do the same with Model A.
Fluker’s motion requested that staff report back at the June 13 council meeting.
Paramedics launch petition
Following Stuebing presentation to council, a petition by CK Paramedics was launched on Care2Petitions.com.
Since being published, the petition had gathered 1,575 supporters of their 2,000 goal.
“Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services has recently submitted a proposal to Council,” the petition states.
“It is attempting to create a blended Fire/EMS model within the Municipality. In Ontario, history has dictated that these models are doomed to fail. Likewise, amalgamations have statistically proven that delivery costs will eventually skyrocket.”
“Moreover, seasoned paramedics (who perform 20,000+ calls per year in Chatham-Kent) are at risk of losing their jobs. Paramedics endure a rigorous 2-year college program, and must pass a provincial exam, to obtain certification. They complete an annual recertification, and are closely monitored and audited by Base Hospital.”
The petition states “We highly respect and appreciate the dedication of our Firefighter colleagues. However, our two professions are not interchangeable. They utilize completely different skill sets. Both are vital in their own right, and, in our opinion, each workforce needs to remain true to itself, to enable the continuity in delivering optimal care.”
“When implementing a model of an emergency service, the safety of Chatham-Kent citizens is of the utmost importance. We believe that the recommended model, currently sitting before Council, could possibly jeopardize that. We are asking that you support a model of EMS delivery within Chatham-Kent which would remain independently managed, and separate from, the Fire Service.”
Next steps
Steubing has been quoted in other publications saying that a new proposal is needed by the end of June.
Union leaders for the paramedics in Chatham-Kent are holding a press conference on Monday (May 30) regarding the proposal put forward by Steubing.
– Watch for more on this story
– Photo from Facebook
