More than 50,000 non-emergency calls requesting an ambulance have been received through the EMS-811 Shared Response Line since being established two years ago, as registered nurses help to ensure appropriate levels of care are offered to Albertans.
The provincewide EMS-811 service assess the seriousness of every call for an ambulance. If a call does not meet the criteria to dispatch an ambulance, the caller is connected to a registered nurse at Health Link 811, which helps avoid unnecessary ambulance responses and/or visits to an emergency department.
Kimberley Simmonds, the CEO of Primary Care Alberta says that the telephone program allows for a utilization of Alberta's healthcare resources in an appropriate way while bridging the work of EMS and 811 nurses together.
“Calling for an ambulance can be scary," Simmonds says. "The teams work together to ensure the patient receives the right care in the moment, and in the future.”
Among the patients who were re-directed to Health Link 811 through this service, a quarter were advised to care for themselves at home and about one-third were advised to see a family physician. Many other callers were directed to community-based healthcare services and resources, including dentists, pharmacists and public health nurses.
Anne MacDonald, interim senior program officer for Alberta Health Services says that the program also frees up ambulances to respond to life-threatening emergencies while still ensuring that non-emergency calls get the appropriate care.
“Many Albertans call 911 and request an ambulance because they don’t know where to seek non-urgent healthcare support, advice or guidance. Transferring these 911 callers to registered nurses at Health Link 811 ensures Albertans are connected to the right care that they need,” she says.
Albertans who are seeking health advice for non-urgent health concerns are advised to call Health Link 811 to speak to a registered nurse for health advice, guidance, support or referrals to the appropriate care provider, clinics and services, including primary care networks. For health emergencies such as chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke symptoms, major bleeding, or significant trauma, Albertans should call 911.
