While Alberta Health Services has been going through many changes, a spokesperson for Wheatland EMS says they remain committed to serving their community.


Kevin Link, Paramedic, and Operations Manager with Wheatland EMS said, "For immediate events within Strathmore and Wheatland County I believe we have a sufficient amount of resources, however, unfortunately, our resources are often depleted because our crews are doing events outside of our traditional response area."


"When we look at ambulance shortages what we mostly worry about is how this affects our population, the people we have promised to serve within Wheatland County," said Link.

Link says that Wheatland EMS was able to maintain their autonomy and remain Wheatland EMS with the support of local politicians.

"Our politicians are fantastic supporters and really believe in us and we really appreciate that we do our best to keep them in the loop as to the strengths and the weaknesses and they frequently challenge ab health services with what they're doing. It is fantastic that we get to stay as Wheatland EMS and still have a voice."

While being dispatched outside of the normal service area Wheatland EMS still focuses strongly on the needs of their community.

Current primary calls are for the elderly population, Link said, "What we always have to remember is that we have an aging population and that's pretty common everywhere.  Most of your calls are elderly people, breathing problems, heart problems or falls. Most of our calls are not life-threatening, maybe five percent of our calls are life-threatening."

Link explains that when an ambulance is called, patients are triaged at the hospital just like any other patient walking in the door.  There are times when patients that are not in life-threatening situations may need to wait to be admitted but EMS personnel remain with the person on the stretcher.

"No matter what patient we are with no matter how minor the most important patient you have is the one you are with at the time," said Link.


Link says Wheatland EMS works to maintain a high level of service, "We deeply care about our staff and we don't like them to be exhausted because it affects morale and it affects a lot of things in the workplace.  I truly believe our paramedics are very responsible and when they get to that point where they feel they're not safe they book off."


Link commends his team for their continued dedication to the residents of the county and each other, "Never before in the last 4 years have we had such a tight-knit group of fantastic paramedics working here." 


Link says that Wheatland EMS is committed to staying very active in the community and becoming more active within social media to try to reach out to as many people as they can.